Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly

Easily the best race of the day in Europe is the Prix Jean Prat, a Group One event for 3yo´s over a mile at Chantilly at 15.42 CET. 8 runners here, including some of the top 3yo milers and including runners from the English, French, Irish and German 2000 Guineas, many of whom then ran well in the St. James´s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Favourite is Gestüt Ammerland´s Lope de Vega (Andre´ Fabre/ Maxime Guyon), who not only took the French classic but followed up in their Derby as well. It is slightly surprising to see him run here, and back over this distance, but his ultra-shrewd trainer certainly knows what he is doing and Ammerland are sending Peter Schiergen´ s Altair Star (Mikael Barzalona) as a pacemaker to ensure that there is an even pace. Game and consistent Dick Turpin (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) looks the obvious danger although he is held on Longchamp form, where he finished runner-up, as he also did at Newmarket and at Royal Ascot. Siyouni (Alain de Royer -Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire) also ran in two of these races, but was disappointing, he was rated one of the top juveniles in Europe after winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October, but has not run up to this form so far in 2010. Xtension (Clive Cox/ Gerald Mossé) missed Ascot to wait for this race, and was not disgraced when 4th in the Newmarket Guineas and 5th in Ireland - behind Dick Turpin both times. Hearts of Fire (Pat Eddery/ Olivier Peslier) was an excellent third at Ascot after not getting a clear run and could go close here; in Germany he won last year at Baden-Baden and followed that up by winning a Group One in Italy. Another horse to have won in Germany is Godolphin´s Frozen Power (Mahmoud al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori) who won the Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen after an inspired ride. German form is often underestimated (not by us!) and he could well run a big race at a big price. Logically however this race should go to Lope de Vega with Dick Turpin very likely to be placed again.

Et voilà nos tuyaux pour les courses:
1ère course: Musharab - Dubai Heros - Musharab
2ème course: Munimanu - Ardha - Alhaweja
3ème course: Keratiya - Lone Cat - Dream Catcher
4ème course: Galeo Des Flandres - Inside Man - Un Air De Salsa
5ème course: Frozen Power - Lope De Vega - Hearts Of Fire
6ème course: Lily Of The Valley - Fadela Style - Banderille
7ème course: Fadelbu - Mondovino - Zarkamar
8ème course: Histoire - Calina Salsa - Shine A Line
9ème course: Genereuse Gold - Lisselan Galaxy - Sargasses