By Sam Turner
SISFAHAN – Henk Grewe
Posted a creditable effort in the 2023 Dubai Gold Cup behind Broome over a trip in excess of his best. Two solid German efforts over 2400m since returning, but below par in the Grosser Preis von Baden on his latest start and much more needed at this level.
HAYA ZARK – Adrien Fouassier
Four Longchamp starts have yielded two victories, including at Group 3 level back in May. Returned from a near three-month absence to run respectably in the Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville where a lack of fitness told late on. Yet to win at this level but may outrun his odds if there was significant rain.
ONESTO – Fabrice Chappet
Talented 2000m performer who made an encouraging return to action this season in the Prix Jacques le Marois behind Inspiral. Failed to build on that display in the Irish Champion Stakes, but the ground may have been quicker than ideal that day and better expected here if he can reach the level of last summer’s Grand Prix du Paris defeat of Simca Mille.
SIMCA MILLE – Stephane Wattel
Course form figures read 2112 and warmed up for this event with a smooth victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin; a race won by Arc winners Alpinista and Torquator Tasso in recent years. Enjoys some cut in the ground and looks a live contender given track experience and profile.
BAY BRIDGE – Sir Michael Stoute
A Kempton victory over 2800m earlier this month has opened up more options at this trip for a horse which has predominantly raced at shorter. Enjoyed a sighter of Longchamp in the Prix Ganay in April and difficult to discount from calculations even if his master trainer has endured a quieter season than ideal.
WESTOVER – Ralph Beckett
Sixth in this race 12 months ago when the very soft track failed to see him at his best, but has continued to thrive this season, including when narrowly beaten in both the Group 1 Coronation Cup and King George, the latter defeat inflicted by Hukum and rated a career best. A live danger to all.
HUKUM – Owen Burrows
Brilliantly trained to return from a career threatening injury (sustained in winning the 2022 Coronation Cup), capturing the Brigadier Gerard Stakes prior to prevailing in a titanic tussle with Westover in a vintage King George at Ascot in July. Boasts a brilliant record when fresh and looks the ideal type for this assignment.
PLACE DU CARROUSEL – Andre Fabre
Her legendary trainer has won a remarkable eight renewals of this great race and his daughter of Lope De Vega has already proved she can win at the top level courtesy of a defeat of Nashwa in the Prix de l’Opera at this meeting 12 months ago. Must have easy ground to display her best.
THROUGH SEVEN SEAS – Tomohito Ozeki
The sole representative from Japan and a repeat of her outstanding effort in the Takarazuka Kinen in July when narrowly beaten by the outstanding Equinox could see her involved at the business end. The balance of her form is on a sound surface and drying conditions in Paris should please connections.
FREE WIND – John & Thady Gosden
Highly capable on her day and extremely versatile both trip and ground wise. Handicappers felt she recorded her career best performance last time out at York in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks and hard to dismiss even if the balance of her form leaves her with a little to find.
SPREWELL – Mrs John Harrington
Began the season in great heart, winning at Naas and Leopardstown and carried that form into the Derby at Epsom when only beaten seven lengths by Auguste Rodin. Has been well beaten by the same rival twice since, including when last of eight in the Irish Champion Stakes so hard to envisage him being good enough here.
MR HOLLYWOOD – Henk Grewe
Lightly raced and progressive 3yo (runner-up in a German Derby) who posted a career best when returning from a mid-season break in a Baden-Baden Group 1 earlier this month. Narrowly beaten by Zagrey that day, he had stablemate Sisfahan in arrears and was a little unfortunate not to win a race landed by 2021 Arc winner Torquator Tasso.
FEED THE FLAME – Pascal Bary
Looked to need his run back from a mid-season break in the Prix Niel last time, his first defeat in four starts at Longchamp. Has six lengths to find with Ace Impact on their running in the French Derby and may have finished a little closer but for a better trip that day.
ACE IMPACT – Jean-Claude Rouget
Unbeaten in five starts, including at Deauville last month, and produced a marquee performance to capture the French Derby at Chantilly in June, coming from an uncompromising position and showcasing an exhilarating turn of foot to leave one or two of his rivals here trailing in his wake. Yet to win at Longchamp, but conditions should play to his strength.
CONTINUOUS – Aidan O’Brien
Supplemented for this race at a cost of 120,000euro and has improved with each start as the season has progressed, culminating in a smooth success in the Group 1 English St Leger a fortnight ago. Has reportedly pleased his trainer since and versatile ground wise so should be another progressive 3yo to give a good account.
FANTASTIC MOON - Frau S Steinberg
Another runner supplemented for the race at a cost of 120,000euro this time by his Australian connections, this German Derby winner deserves his place in the field. An impressive winner of the Prix Niel when proving too strong in the final 200m for French Derby fourth Feed The Flame, the son of Sea The Moon looks sure to be favoured by the drying ground and could justify the sizeable outlay to add him to the field.
Summary
There is little doubt ACE IMPACT is a star colt and the drying ground in Paris should give him the opportunity to utilise his trademark acceleration. WESTOVER continues to run to a high level and his Sheema Classic performance entitles him to respect, while SIMCA MILLE also makes some appeal given his profile and affinity for the track.
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