Longchamp previews: get the inside track on supporting races

John and Thady Gosden’s Nashwa will bid for a Group One hat-trick in the Prix de l’Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The filly, who is owned and bred by Imad Al Sagar’s Blue Diamond Stud, finished third in the Oaks when not seeing out the trip, but tasted Classic success in the Prix de Diane shortly afterwards.

Victory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood followed and the Prix de l’Opera was immediately named as a possible target and that plan has now come to fruition, with Nashwa drawn 13 of 16 for the 10-furlong Group One.

“It was always the plan after Goodwood. We looked at various options but the original and natural plan was the go to the Prix de l’Opera and we’re on the cusp of that now,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Al Sagar.

“She’s had a pretty straightforward preparation in every way, she seems to be in good form and she’s continued to develop, which has been pleasing.

“She’s had a few positive bits of work, her last few bits of work were very decent. She’s obviously drawn 13 which is not ideal but we have to live with that.”

Conditions in Paris are soft and more rain is due, but Grimthorpe noted the ability of both Nashwa’s dam, Princess Loulou, and sire, the great Frankel, to win on testing ground.

“Both her father and her mother went on heavy ground, so we have to be at least hopeful,” he said.

“I don’t think anybody wants to race on extreme ground, but I think she should have it in her DNA to be able to act on it.”

Jessica Harrington’s Trevaunance will represent Moyglare Stud in the race, bringing with her solid French form, having won the Prix de Psyche and the Prix de la Nonette on her last two starts – both of which were run at Deauville.

“She’s done us proud this year and Jessie has done a great job with her,” said the stud’s Fiona Craig.

“Every time she travels, she seems to win. It’s probably a little bit more complicated than going to Deauville, but I think she goes in there with a fighting chance and certainly an each-way chance.”

The Aga Khan’s Ebaiyra, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard has finished third in two Group Ones recently – both the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis and the Prix Jean Romanet.

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan’s racing manager, said: “She’s very consistent and she has had a great season, but at the same time it has been frustrating for us that she hasn’t won her Group One yet.

“It is about time that she did, as she has come close a few times. She has run well in the Romanet and in Germany so we’ll try again, it is probably her last race before she retires.”

The Platinum Queen attempts to end a 44-year wait for a juvenile winner of the Prix de l’Abbaye when she lines up in the ParisLongchamp Group One on Sunday.

The last juvenile to land the five-furlong contest was Criquette Head-Maarek’s Sigy in 1978 and since then many have tried but ultimately failed – Soldiers Call (third in 2018) and Kingsgate Native (second in 2007) the most recent to make the frame.

Richard Fahey’s speedy daughter of Cotai Glory has already met her elders once this season when second to Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe and arrives in the French capital having gone down fighting in a thrilling finish to the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster most recently.

The flying filly has been handed stall seven and connections are hopeful of another huge performance.

“The draw gods have smiled on us somewhat being in seven,” said Tom Palin of owners Middleham Park Racing. “You’re closer to the rail there and a few of her market rivals are drawn a little bit less favourably than ourselves. A few of the pace angles are sort of on the outside also.

“In theory, as long as she breaks well, she should be able to get out and get a nice forward position on the rail.

“Although the draw gods have been kind, the weather gods have been slightly turning against us. You’re never going to know the true extent of it until you get there because they only have that one race on the straight course.

“It’s not going to be her most favourable conditions, but you are not going to get many other days where you are favourite for a Group One and getting all that weight from rivals. I think she will take her chance and we’ll just have to see to what extent that soft ground blunts her speed and takes its toll on her.

“It will be interesting to see how all the form lines tie in and it will be an exciting race. There’s a lot of unknowns going into it but would I swap her? Absolutely not.”

One the draw has not been so kind to is defending champion A Case Of You, with Adrian McGuinness’ charge posted wide in stall 19.

“He’s in very good form. I was a bit disappointed with his last run, but it was his first outing in three months and he always likes a run or two just to really sharpen him up,” said the Irish handler.

“Now we’ve been handed a shocking draw, we’re 19 of 19 which is a big downer. It’s going to be very hard to win from there but we’re going to give it a try and the slower the ground, the better.

“No one wants to be drawn on a wing, we were drawn out wide in the Flying Five as well, so we’re just not having that luck with the draws at the moment.”

Flotus finished best of those who took part in the Curragh’s Flying Five Stakes last month when third and joint-trainer Ed Crisford believes the consistent filly can put in another huge performance.

He said: “She is in great order and came out of the race at the Curragh well. She ran a super race in the Flying Five. She is drawn nine, so that is fine – you want low numbers there.

“It was soft ground at the Curragh and it rained all day, she won at Goodwood in soft ground as a two-year-old, so hopefully she will get through it, especially over five (furlongs). If she handles the conditions, she should have every chance and run a big race.”

It is 20 years since Continent won the race for David Nicholls and his son Adrian attempts to match his father’s achievement with his two raiders. He saddles last year’s fourth Mo Celita and the progressive Tees Spirit, who has won five times this term and heads to Paris in search of a hat-trick.

“We’re looking forward to it and we’re happy with the draws for them in three (Mo Celita) and six – that is good,” said Nicholls.

“Barry (McHugh) is very happy with Tees Spirit, he has improved all year and deserves a crack at this.

“Jason Hart is on Mo Celita and that is great because he is a great jockey on pace horses, so we are delighted to get him.

“It’s not an easy race, obviously a Group One isn’t going to be easy, but they are both in great order. It’s a privilege for a small yard with less than 20 horses to have two in a Group One.”

On matching his father, he added: “There aren’t many sprints he didn’t win, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But we’ll give it a good go and hopefully they can both run well.”

Roger Varian’s Mitbaahy is given the chance to test his mettle in Group One company having progressed nicely this term. He will be attempting to confirm Newbury World Trophy form over Teresa Mendoza, while Clive Cox believes Caturra is capable of landing a blow from stall four.

“He’s in excellent form,” said Cox. “He was drawn very much out on a limb at the Curragh in the Flying Five last time. He’s pleased me very much with his well being and he’s a horse with plenty of ability who was good enough to win a Flying Childers last year. I’m happy and he’s in good nick.”

Also entered for the Aga Khan is the Johnny Murtagh-trained Shartash in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Previously campaigned over six furlongs, the son of Invincible Spirit won the Railway Stakes from subsequent Middle Park scorer Blackbeard, in June before finishing third in two Group Ones.

Rimaud said: “He won a Group Two over six furlongs, beating Blackbeard, but was then beaten in the Phoenix Stakes when it looked as if six furlongs was too short.

“He ran over seven in the National Stakes and finished third. Soft ground will not be a disadvantage. Johnny says the horse is working well and we’re very happy with him.

“It is satisfying to have a horse at this time of year going for a race like the Lagadere, he deserves to go. All his performances suggest this is the right race.”

Aidan O’Brien’s The Antarctic was second in the Middle Park and steps up in trip at ParisLongchamp, where he will be partnered by Ryan Moore.

Moore also has a chance in the Prix Marcel Boussac with O’Brien’s Never Ending Story.

There is a strong British presence in the Prix de la Foret, with Ralph Beckett’s Kinross coming into the race in great form having won Doncaster’s Park Stakes on his last start and the City Of York the time before.

The colt was fourth last year from stall nine and has drawn the same berth again this time around.

“Kinross is very well. Obviously the race has set up very well for him,” the trainer said.

“There is a bit of juice in the ground. He got a little bit too far back last year – let’s just hope it doesn’t happen again on Sunday.”

In the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, Kinross was beaten by Andrew Balding’s Sandrine, who is also headed to France after going on to finish third behind Kinross at York.

“She won the Lennox earlier in the year, but she has a little bit to find with Kinross on the City of York running,” the trainer said of the filly.

“Slower ground won’t be a problem to her and she seems in great shape, even though she has been on the go for some time. We’re hoping she can hold her form and run a good race.”