Vintage under the saddle

Paris-Vincennes, Friday, June 3: The saddle cracks are in focus today in Vincennes. In the five-year-old Prix Victor Cavey (3rd race/19.33/120,000 euros/2700m), Hirondelle du Rib (Jean Dersoir) should be the winner after her recent Group 2 honors ahead of Hilyrose d`Icelea (Mathieu Mottier), Happy and Lucky (Adrien Lamy), Hytte du Terroir (Leo Abrivard) and Hera de Banville (Benjamin Rochard). Eric Raffin, who is in over-form, will steer Hallix, who is competing again in her special discipline after two unsuccessful attempts in front of the sulky. Best remembered is her honorable mention in the Prix du President de la Republique (Group 1) two lengths behind the sovereign Hirondelle du Rib.

The one year younger `I` yearling is under order in the Prix Lavater (6th race/21.15pm/120,000 euros/2700m). Ici C`Est Paris (David Thomain) meets again Ines des Rioults (Florian Desmigneux), who made short work of the Allaire stallion in the Prix Henri Balliere (Group 2). Ideal Jibay (Jean Dersoir), who impressively won the Mauquenchy, could intervene in the new duel, but Indigo du Poret (Eric Raffin), who showed up in the Prix Louis Le Bourg (Group 2), is also a candidate for the front.

Ammerland opportunity in Longchamp

Longchamp, Thursday, June 2: With an eight-race program, another event takes place today in Longchamp. Among the better races is the Prix du Grand Palais (5th race/19.34h/35,000 euros/1850m), a yearling race for three-year-old horses in the `Classe 1` category. Fredy Head saddles Mirsky (Olivier Peslier), who was last placed third at list level, with first chances. The Francis-Henri Graffard trained Blue Boat (Christophe Soumillon), for whom two third places in similar tasks this season speak, is rated hardly worse. Safni (Mickael Barzalona) runs for the colors of the Ammerland stud. The protégé of Andre Fabre was particularly pleasing here in his most recent appearance as a good second ahead of Tigrr (Hugo Journiac), who improved further in his subsequent start. January Moon (Sylvain Ruis) could benefit from mare weight, while for My Baby Love (Cyrille Stefan) and Sogynt (Hugo Boutin) can not avoid the outsider role.

Comeback of Django Unchained

Saint-Cloud, Wednesday, 1 June: Nine races will take place today at the Hippodrome in Saint-Cloud. In the Prix Carteret (3rd race/15.00/18.000 Euro/2100 m), a `Classe 3` with four-year-olds and older horses, Henk Grewe will saddle Django Unchained (Tony Piccone), who is starting the season for the first time.

Exactly one year ago to the day, the Pastorius son competed in his last race in Strasbourg, where he fell short of expectations in fifth place. Django Unchained probably showed his best performance as a two-year-old in a 250,000 euro auction race at the `Arc` meeting where he finished second. The Natural (Maxime Guyon) and Ultra Cool (Coralie Pacaut) are two other seasonal debutants. With plenty of stamina in the tank, fresh winners Influx (Luca Carboni) and Future History (Clement Lecoeuvre) will attract plenty of attention. Panjaman (Aurelien Lemaitre) deserves a mention as last year`s Quinté winner ahead of Shamsabad (Mickael Barzalona). Inca Man (Marie Velon) was already close to victory in a sales race this year.