G1 – 2100m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Prix du Jockey Club – Form Comments
| 1 | Zarkallani | Narrowly beaten in 1600m maiden events on his first two starts – having started favourite each time – but showed the benefit of those starts when accelerating clear of his six rivals in a 2000m maiden at Longchamp last Sunday. His trainer thinks that the move to a right-handed track – like Chantilly – helped. |
| 2 | Motamarris | He has started favourite for all three starts and won each time, twice by runaway distances. Most recently Aurelian Lemaitre had him in front from the start over this course and distance and they drew clear of a Fabre-trained rival who had impressively won his previous start. Up hugely in class but interesting. |
| 3 | Mohawk | Highlight so far was when winning a G2 over 1600m on a fast surface at Newmarket last September. Ran a good second in a Listed Chester race in May over a similar distance to this – giving weight to the winner – but didn’t have enough speed back down to 1600m in a G1 last time. |
| 4 | Rockemperor | Gradually improved in three starts over the winter, winning over 2000m at Cagnes-sur-mer in February. What puts him in here with an outside chance is his close second in an 1800m G3 at Longchamp next time, boosted by the winner’s excellent second in the French 2,000 Guineas subsequently. |
| 5 | Roman Candle | Facts and figures suggest that he has improved race by race and, under a confident ride from Mickael Barzalona. he overhauled the long time leader late on to win an established trial for this race at Saint-Cloud in May. He’s got stamina and will want a fast pace to aim at. |
| 6 | Persian King | Is the current star of French racing, confirming the brilliant pace he showed when a runaway G3 winner at Longchamp in April, and a decisive French 2,000 Guineas (G1) victory there in May. Those wins were over 1600m but his dam won at this distance and he could be hard to stop with anticipated quick ground a big help. |
| 7 | Joe Francais | From a stable that have won this four times but it is hard to give this colt a major chance as he has appeared to lack a decisive finishing kick in either of his starts this season, latterly when fourth in a G3 over a similar trip to this at Longchamp in April. Slow ground needed. |
| 8 | Blenheim Palace | Very well bred but his only win coming in a slow ground 2000m handicap at Navan. He did however outrun his odds of 33-1 when second to well fancied Epsom Derby colt Broome at Leopardstown in May, making much of the running and then sticking on well. Perhaps he is suddenly improving. |
| 9 | Cape Of Good Hope | Surprisingly he has been switched to Chantilly from the Epsom Derby as he would have been the only colt in that field who had prior experience of Epsom – winning the Derby Trial there in April. Perhaps, however, he will be better suited to this 2100m trip. His brilliant brother Highland Reel twice won Sha Tin’s Hong Kong Vase. |
| 10 | Raise You | Has been a decisive winner of both his starts this season and this G1 Classic was mentioned as soon as he made much of the running and then galloped on strongly to win a 2000m Listed event at Newmarket in May. An interesting UK-trained raider. |
| 11 | Kick On | Started 2019 in the best possible way with a gutsy victory in an 1800m Listed event at Newmarket in April. Not quite quick enough back at Newmarket for the G1 2,000 Guineas over 1600m but he’s classy and this move up to 2100m may well help. |
| 12 | Slalom | His sire Intello won this race and Slalom looks pretty smart, unbeaten in three starts. On his only run this year he came from the back and, though taking time to hit top gear, he quickened away without the whip being needed to win that G3 (2100m) at Longchamp in April. |
| 13 | Starmaniac | Quite stylish when winning over this distance at Saint-Cloud on his first start this season. He was then favourite for a G2 trial for this at Saint-Cloud in May, finishing third. His trainer thinks they got the tactics wrong and he should have been ridden more positively. Expect that here. |
| 14 | Sottsass | The stable have won this four times and they have an interesting candidate here as his easy victory in a Listed race over 2000m here in May suggested he was fast improving. However he may be at his best on soft ground, and that is not likely for Sunday. |
| 15 | Surfman | This big colt has improved race by race and, this year, he was a runaway winner of a minor event on the all-weather before running a fine 5L third to Telecaster in a G2 over a similar distance to this at York. Connections did not want to take on Telecaster again, at Epsom, plus this shorter trip may be more favourable. |
Others
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