Group 2 test for the three-year-olds

Paris-Vincennes, Tuesday 31 May: The 2019 crop comes under scrutiny today in two Group 2 races.

First up are the stallions in the Prix Kalmia (3rd race/17.03/120,000 euros/2175m). Just A Gigolo (Franck Nivard) is undoubtedly the prime of the crop. The stallion trained by Philippe Allaire has won eight races so far and the last one was in the Prix Paul Karle (Group 2). He won by a clear margin against nine of his competitors today. Juninho Dry (Paul Philippe Ploquin) still held up best to the Allaire protégé. Jaguar Wit (Tony Le Beller), Jambier d`Ourville (Laurent Koubiche), Jag Stryck (Matthieu Abrivard) and Jakartas des Pres (Eric Raffin) fought neck-and-neck for the other places.

The Prix Ozo (4th race/17.37/120,000 Euro/2175 m) gathered twelve mares at the start. Jazzy Perrine (Eric Raffin) stands out among her age-mates. This year she stood out with victories in the Prix Gelinotte (Group 2), the Prix Roquepine (Group 2) and the Prix Masina (Group 2). Her only defeat was in the Critérium des Jeunes (Group 1) against Just A Gigolo, who ran in the stallion division. Joke (Gabriele Gelormini) was particularly pleasing as a runner-up to the Malmqvist mare. In the Prix Masina she brought Jazzy Perrine to the brink of defeat. Jenny de Joudes (Alain Laurent) has not lost a race in three starts. Joy Captain (Jean-Francois Senet) and Joyeuse (Mattieu Mottier), who recently scored under saddle, are other horses in form with chances.

German guests in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, Monday, May 30: A large number of German-owned horses enrich today`s event in Strasbourg, where a victory for the guests seems possible in the Prix Beck Boissons (6th race/15.00/22,000 euros/2350 m). Waldemar Hickst (No More Bolero and Langarud) and Peter Schiergen (Salvatore and Moonflight) are represented with two chances each. Andreas Suborics and Sascha Smrczek saddle Lost Dream (Martin Seidl) and Grand Cru (Bayarsaikhan Ganbat), two mares who have already won here. No More Bolero (Marco Basamento) turned his only appearance to date as a two-year-old into a complete success. Like Lost Dream, he is making his first start of the season. Langarud (Alexander Pietsch) finished in a maiden race here twelve days ago together with Plaine d`Espoir in the beaten field, before that he also disappointed as a highly rated horse behind the narrowly victorious Salvatore (Bauyrzhan Murzabayev). Pendulum Valley (Theo Bachelot), trained by Edouard Montfort, who recommended himself for future tasks with a triumph in Lyon, could put a spanner in the works for the German guests.

Prix Saint-Alary + Prix d`Ispahan in Longchamp

Longchamp, Sunday, May 29: The Longchamp track is the venue for two classic races today.

Three-year-old fillies are under order in the Prix Saint-Alary (4th race/15:45/250,000 euros/2000m). Prosperous Voyage (Frankie Dettori) finished ahead of Wild Beauty (William Buick) in both the Fillies Mile (Group 1) and the English 1000 Guineas. The mare, trained by Ralph Beckett, was now expected to win. Above The Curve (Ryan Moore) announced herself emphatically as List runner-up at Chester. She rounds out the favorites with Place du Carrousel (Mickael Barzalona), who won the Prix Cleopatre (Group 3).

In the Prix d`Ispahan (5th race/16:25/250,000 euros/1850 m) Pretty Tiger (Maxime Guyon) and Sealiway (Mickael Barzalona), who last finished next in the Prix Ganay behind the victorious State Of Rest, will meet again. The two four-year-olds should get a close look at Dreamloper (Kieran Shoemark), who showed up in the Dahlia Stakes (Group 2). Dilawar (Christophe Soumillon), runner-up in the Prix du Muguet (Group 2), and Dawn Intello (Gerald Mosse), coming off a successful Italian excursion, are also conceivable up front.