Marchand D'or runs in France.

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Marchand D'Or to bid for glory in Saint-Georges


FREDDIE HEAD will have a busy day at Longchamp on Sunday as, apart from saddling Naaqoos in the Poulains, he also has star sprinter Marchand D'Or in the 5f Prix de Saint-Georges.

The last time he performed over the course and distance he picked up the re-run Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, after crack Hungarian sprinter Overdose 'won' the first running, which was cancelled due to a faulty stall.

After Wednesday's forfeit 11 sprinters remain in the Group 3 event, which is likely to be contested by the David Nicholls-trained Inxile, Benbaun from Kevin Ryan's stable and possibly the Eric Alston-trained Reverence and Paul Cole-trained Percolator, who won the Group 3 Prix du Bois over the course and distance last year.

Not much rain is forecast in the Paris area until Sunday and the weather is dull and humid.

The official going at Longchamp on Wednesday was 3.2, or good, and is likely to be similar for the opening Classics of the French season

Fantasia gets her Classic chance in Pouliches


Preview: France, Sunday 3pm BST (live on ATR/RUK)

Longchamp: Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) 1m, 3yo fillies

LUCA CUMANI says he has not been left to rue what might have been had Fantasia taken her chance in the Stanjames.com 1,000 Guineas because he had known for a long time that she would not run.

Either way, the stunning Nell Gwyn Stakes winner finally gets her shot at Classic success on Sunday in France when she is hot favourite forthe Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the French version of the 1,000 Guineas.


"There was never really a question of Fantasia running in the 1,000 Guineas so I have no regrets," said Cumani.

The John Gosden-trained Rainbow View, beaten at odds-on at Newmarket, is also owned by George Strawbridge.

"As long as Rainbow View was well we were always going to run in the Pouliches," added Cumani, who was pleased with Fantasia's inside draw in stall two.

Frankie Dettori rides the daughter of Sadler's Wells, an awesome seven-length winner of the Nell Gwyn and a best-priced 6-1 favourite for the Oaks.


The rider is bidding to win the Classic for the first time; no British-trained filly has scored since John Gosden's Zenda in 2002.

Fantasia is joined by the Kevin Ryan-trained Undaunted Affair, while Jim Bolger saddles Oh Goodness Me, narrow winner of the Group 3 Park Express Stakes on her comeback this term atThe Curragh.

However, the visitors face a strong domestic team including Marcel Boussac winner Proportional, who represents six-time winner Criquette Head-Maarak.

Khalid Abdullah's daughter of Beat Hollow won that Group 1 event by a bigger margin than Zarkava, and her trainer expects her to strip fitter than when she was beaten into third in the Prix de la Grotte by Sunday's rivals Tamazirte and Soneva on her reappearance.

Jean-Claude Rouget trains both Tamazirte and Elusive Wave, who finished three lengths behind Proportional in the Marcel Boussac. She could not have been more impressive when making every yard ofthe running on her seasonal debut in the Prix Imprudence ahead of Entre Deux Eaux.

Desmond Stoneham's selection: Fantasia

What they say

Criquette Head-Maarek, trainer of Proportional

"The filly is just as I want her for the Pouliches - she has been working nicely at home, looks well and has come on a lot since the Grotte. Being a course and distance winner is an advantage, and I hope there will be some pace in the race. We have an outside draw, which she had when winning the Marcel Boussac, but of course I would prefer to be in stall one or two."

Yves de Nicolay, trainer of Soneva

"You can forget her run in the Grotte as she only raced for about 200 yards. She has also done well since that race and was also given some final work on the straight mile at Deauville. She is a filly with excellent acceleration."

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Tamazirte and Elusive Wave

"I was pleasantly surprisedby the way Tamazirte won the Grotte and wasn't sure she was capable of such a performance. The filly has improved all the time since the start of the season.

"Elusive Wave had some light work during the week. She was in a class of her own when winning the Imprudence and wasn't altogether wound up that day. She is mentally very strong and competitive and I am expecting a big run from her but there are some top fillies in the Pouliches."
Trainer Jim Bolger

"She is a pretty useful filly, so I'm hoping for the best. She is in good form and can handle all types of ground."

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Undaunted Affair

"She's in great form and I just hope the ground stays on the easy side for her - she hasn't had her ground for a while and it was too quick for her in Ireland. It's a tall order, but she's in good nick. The draw (six) is okay and Olivier Peslier knows his way round there and he's the right man to have on board."

Luca Cumani, trainer of Fantasia

"I think Fantasia is pretty smart and we will see on Sunday if she is at Group 1 level. She is a very straightforward and professional filly. She has had two pieces of very good work since the Nell Gwyn and I am very happy with her.

"She's drawn two which is excellent - it's a good race and the best French fillies are there so it's not going to be easy but we are going to give it our best shot. Any ground will do as long as it is not extreme."

Redemption awaits Murtagh on Westphalia

Preview: France, Sunday 2.25pm BST (live on ATR/RUK)

Longchamp: Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1) 1m, 3yo colts

AFTER a testing week at Chester, Johnny Murtagh has the chance of Classic redemption in France on Sunday when he partners Westphalia for Aidan O'Brien in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.


Irish colts may hold the upper hand in the French version of the 2,000 Guineas, where JimBolger saddles the favourite - but perhaps not the favourite bookmakers were expecting.

Greenham winner Vocalised, who completed a hat-trick already this season at The Curragh on Monday, does the honours instead of Dewhurst winner Intense Focus, who was market leader in early lists for the Longchamp contest.

Although the ground was described as good on Saturday, thundery showers are forecast overnight, prompting Bolger to run Vocalised rather than his stablemate, who prefers a quicker surface.

The Ballydoyle team stand in Vocalised's way, though, in a race the stable has won three times in the past with Landseer, AussieRules and Astronomer Royal.

Murtagh and O'Brien struck at Lingfield on Saturday when a determined Age Of Aquarius stayed on to take the Derby Trial.

Westphalia, joined by stablemate Born To Be King, tested the water last month in the Prix de Fontainebleau where he was running on well in the final furlong behind this afternoon's rival Silver Frost, scored by half a length.

The only British-trained colt is Godolphin's Shaweel, three lengths behind Vocalised in the Greenham but reportedly going showing up well at home. He won the Gimcrack last term for former trainer Mark Johnston before being narrowly beaten in the Group 1 National Stakes.

The home team Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Naaqoos, who is out to redeem a reputation tarnished by his defeat in the Prix Djebel, where he was beaten by Le Havre.

Still, that outing should have done him the world of good and he should be spot-on today.

His trainer Freddie Head won the Poulains five times as a jockey - but owner Hamdan Al Maktoum has yet to win the Classic.

Jean-Claude Rouget could have a strong hand to play in the Poulains as he fields both the Djebel winner Le Havre and Oiseau De Feu, who will have come on since his recent third in the Fontainebleau.

Desmond Stoneham's selection: Naaqoos

What they say

Angus Gold, Racing manager to Naaqoos' owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum

"He will be racing over a mile for the first time but he is a big, long-striding horse and we are confident he will stay the trip. The colt has been working really well and Freddie has been very happy with him. In hindsight, he might have been a little kind to him before the Djebel. Now he must go out and do it and we are confident of a good show."

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Le Havre and Oiseau de Feu

"I have always thought a lot of Le Havre and wasn't surprised by his performancein the Djebel. If he can repeat it in the Poulains, then he should be involved in the finish.

"Oiseau de Feu had a bad draw in the Fontainebleau. He finished so well and that gives his owners the right to dream for an honourable run in the Poulains."

David Smaga, trainer of Handsome Maestro

"He is a very good colt and should be one of the favourites. When he got beaten in the Conde he was a victim and was hampered by the winner. He then got scared and hung right. But he was very impressive last time and has been working well."

Yves De Nicolay, trainer of Silver Frost

"He is in great shape and I am very pleased with him. He has definitely come on since his win in the Fontainebleau - his work on the straight mile last Monday was excellent. But although he goes on all ground, he is even better with cut. He is a very honest and consistent individual."

Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin, owners of Shaweel

"It was very testing at Newbury and he got very tired. He has improved but will need to have done so, as it is a very competitive race. He is really pleasing us at home."

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Westphalia and Born To Be King

"Westphalia is fine and I am very happy with him. Many of my horses have come on since their first run and I hope he will too, but he ran nicely in the Guineas trial in France.The colt has speed and travels well in his races."

"Born to be King ran well when third in a Classic trial and he has come along nicely since. He won his maiden nicely at Gowran last year on a right-handed track."

Jim Bolger, trainer of Vocalised

"The reason I am running Vocalised instead of Intense Focus is because Vocalised can handle all sorts of ground and will not be troubled if it rains. They are saying the ground is on the good to soft side at the moment, but we don't mind what it is. It was heavy but he still went through it on Monday. He is in good form, he is hardy and he is up to it. He's very well and we are expecting him to run well."

Some betting indication for today is that Marchand D'or and Fantasia are both around 9/10,

I hope we get to see all this. I would hate it to interfere with the world class coverage from Ngong.

LOL Mathew. Have you picked your Ngong jackpot yet or are you still busy studying tomorrow's trotting cards ?

Yikes, that's too much excitement for me.

Going going Ngong!

France here we come, Sheriyana can win this?

shocking ride, from the wallet!!

All back on Fantasia.

Maybe Soumillon thought he was riding Zarkava? Or Pegasus the winged horse? Not his finest hour, and that isn't from the wallet!

Thank you Magic.