All eyes turn to France on Sunday where the next Classic takes centre stage with the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly. We look at the runners and riders.
Flight Leader (Bauyrzhan Murzabayev / André Fabre)
This three-year-old son of Frankel was last of nine on debut but soon took a big step forward winning second up in maiden company on the Chantilly turf track last October. The Juddmonte Farms colt won again scoring over this French Derby distance in the Group 3 Prix Noailles at Longchamp in April. He then failed to handle the very testing conditions in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche when a well-beaten last of seven but could bounce back on the quicker ground.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Mickaël Barzalona / Andreas Schutz)
A surprise winner of the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp three weeks ago this son of Muhaarar has only missed the frame once from five career starts. He looks interesting upped in trip and breeding suggests he should stay the distance.
Rajapour (Ioritz Mendizabal / Jean-Claude Rouget)
The Aga Khan-owned Rajapour represents last year's winning connections and must be respected with the stable having won four of the past seven runnings of this race. The son of Almanzor struggled on testing ground in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche when a well-beaten sixth behind Big Rock. However, he had a promising profile prior including a decent third in the Longchamp Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau and a Listed Deauville success last October with the stable in solid form, he could be one of the dark horses.
Padishakh (Maxime Guyon / Jean-Claude Rouget)
Not disgraced in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche here when fourth behind Big Rock last month. It is worth noting this son of Wootton Bassett finished much closer to that rival prior at Longchamp when a two-and-a-half-length runner-up in the Group 3 Prix La Force and he could be an interesting runner as a previous course winner.
Feed The Flame (Christophe Soumillon / Pascal Bary)
This unbeaten son of Kingman caught the eye with a five-and-a-half-length Longchamp maiden success in April. He followed up with a comfortable victory in a Class 2 conditions event at the same Paris venue three weeks late and the form has worked out well. Connections paid the supplementary fee this week, and Soumillon has seemingly elected to ride this colt ahead of American Flag.
Ace Impact (Cristian Demuro / Jean-Claude Rouget)
This son of Cracksman was an impressive debut scorer at Cagnes-sur-Mer on the all-weather in January before a two-length victory in a Class 1 conditions race at Bordeaux prior to a Listed success at this course a month ago. This clearly represents his stiffest task to date, but he continues to climb the grades and it would be no shock were he to find the frame.
Winter Pudding (Gérald Mossé / Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti)
One of few in this line up that are proven not only over this journey but also over further. This son of Seahenge was a good debut fourth at this course on the all-weather where the form worked out well from last November before a maiden success a month later. The improvement continued into 2023 with a good second in Listed company at Saint-Cloud preceding a narrow Listed win when making all in style at Longchamp over 1m 4f.
American Flag (Stéphane Pasquier / Yann Barberot)
He produced a promising debut second last October at Deauville and confirmed that initial promise when the son of Wootton Bassett completed a hat-trick including success in Listed company and the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, beating future Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner, Marhaba Ya Sanafi. He was fourth behind that rival in the Classic three weeks ago after badly missing the start and if jumping away on terms has every chance up in trip to reverse the form.
Continuous (Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien)
The only Irish challenger for this year's renewal but remains unexposed with just three starts. He showed plenty of ability when winning on debut at the Curragh last August before a Group 3 level success at Saint-Cloud a month later. He was not seen again until last month when the son of Japanese stallion Heart's Cry dead-heated for third in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York over a similar trip. This three-year-old rates highly for a stable who won the English equivalent yesterday and this race two years ago.
Epictetus (Frankie Dettori / John & Thady Gosden)
It was a fabulous Friday for Frankie at Epsom with a Group 1 double, and he will be hoping he can continue the red-hot form on his final mount in the Prix du Jockey Club, a race he has won three times in the past. This son of Kingman was a debut winner at Newmarket last July before a pair of second-place finishes in Group 3 and Group 1 company, the latter when beaten three-and-a-half lengths behind Auguste Rodin (who won at Epsom on Saturday) in the Futurity Trophy. He won over 1m 2f in the Listed Blue Ribband Trail Stakes at Epsom in April and he was not disgraced when fifth behind Continuous in the Dante at York.
Big Rock (Aurélien Lemaitre / Christopher Head)
The strongest candidate for the home contingent he is one of the most experienced runners in the line-up with seven starts under his belt. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar has won four times with an all-weather course Listed success preceding a pair of Group 3 victories, including a key prep race a month ago here, the Group 3 Prix de Guiche. He looked visually very impressive that day when scoring by five lengths and must be taken seriously.
WIN – Big Rock
PLACE – Feed The Flame
