Longchamp plays host to a scintillating clash between two of Britain’s top milers in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin on Sunday - the first meeting between 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech and dual Group 1 winner Charyn.
Notable Speech became Godolphin's fifth 2000 Guineas winner on the Rowley Mile in May, the first horse in eighty-six years to win the Classic without racing as a juvenile. He started favourite to uphold his unbeaten record in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but failed to fire, finishing well-beaten behind to Rosallion. The son of Dubawi returned to form with an emphatic victory against his elders in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, with the re-opposing Henry Longfellow back in fourth and will be aiming to replicate the feat against Charyn. It's an arguably tougher assignment; Notable Speech js unproven on soft ground and Charyn's might remains unchallenged so far.
Roger Varian's Charyn has gone from strength to strength this season, stepping up considerably from all form registered as a three-year-old. Winner of the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown in April, the colt was denied a first Group 1 when chasing home the dominant Audience in the Lockinge Stakes. He made the successful transition to top-level company in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and completed a Group 1 double in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, beating tough opposition including Inspiral and Metropolitan. He's clearly a different horse than seen in 2023 and the peak of his ability is yet to be reached - the expected soft ground at Longchamp should also play to his strengths, having taken multiple prizes on slower ground.
Whilst the focus of the race may be the clash between Notable Speech and Charyn, Aidan O'Brien's Henry Longfellow cannot be entirely ignored. The son of brilliant mare Minding, the colt remains unexposed with only six starts under his belt - including victory in the Group 1 National Stakes as a juvenile. He may not have recorded a win at three yet, but his second behind Rosallion in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot reads well. Although disappointing in the Sussex Stakes behind Notable Speech, dam Minding arguably improved as her three-year-old season continued and the colt is not ruled out of what is being billed as a two horse race.
Elsewhere in the field, the French duo of Caramelito and Ramadan could easily out-run long odds. Francois Rohaut's Caramelito is a course and distance winner proven in these conditions, who stepped into Group company when taking the mile Group 3 Prix Messidor at Chantilly when last seen. Christopher Head's Ramadan boasts a four-from-five record at this distance and demonstrated improved form when returning to a mile to take the Group 3 Prix Daphnis at Deauville. Although the three-year-old colt would need to step up on his previous form, the current price of 40/1 is probably not reflective of his ability.
WIN - CHARYN
PLACE - RAMADAN
