One of the biggest weeks in global horseracing commences with a Group 1 at Longchamp and trainer Owen Burrows will be searching for another big race success with Anmaat in the 1m1½f Prix d'Ispahan (3:25).
One of the biggest weeks in global horseracing commences with a Group 1 at Longchamp and trainer Owen Burrows will be searching for another big race success with Anmaat in the 1m1½f Prix d'Ispahan (3:25).
Burrows is in excellent form with a 33% strike rate from the last fourteen days (2-6), including Hukum's victory in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park. Anmaatenjoyed a successful four-year-old campaign, commencing with a win in the John Smith's Handicap at York and ending with a hard-fought head victory at Longchamp in the Group 2 Prix Dollar. He was a commendable second behind Adayar on seasonal reappearance in the Group 2 Gordon Richard Stakes and is a worthy favourite.
The best of the domestic runners is probably Jean-Claude Rouget's colt Erevann. He was kept lightly campaigned as a three-year-old with four starts, all coming over a mile. His success over the Revenant in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on very soft ground was a notable performance at the end of the campaign. Erevann shaped as though a step up in trip may suit when third on reappearance and he tries further than a mile for the first time.
Fabrice Chappet's Onesto has not been seen since an unsuccessful trip to Tokyo for the Group 1 Japan Cup. He won the 1m4f Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris last season and his re-introduction over a shorter distance is an interesting move.
Junko, trained by Andre Fabre, is potentially underrated in the betting market. He was only beaten a head by Anmaat in the Group 2 Prix Dollar and won over this distance on his debut back in February 2022. He started the new season with a conditions victory at Chantilly back in March before a tilt at the 1m1f Group 1 Dubai Turf in Meydan, where he finished a fair sixth behind Lord North. The four-year-old will be primed for the race and an upset wouldn't surprise.
Of the remainder, Joseph O'Brien's Buckaroo had not been seen since a disappointing run in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas but returned to action with a neck success in the Listed Heritage Stakes. His potential is untapped, and he was a short price for the Irish Classic when sixth.
Light Infantry has been disappointing on his two runs since returning from Australia yet his form in France is strong. He finished second in both the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and the Group 1 Jacques Le Marois last summer and is a useful performer.
DARK HORSE: JUNKO
