By Tom Frary
Wednesday's French Guineas trials, the G3 Prix Imprudence and G3 Prix Djebel, could be the last to be staged at their traditional home of Maisons-Laffitte, so a big performance could prove a tonic and that could be supplied by one of France's most exciting prospects in Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) in the former contest. Lady Bamford's chestnut has proven to be €650,000 well spent after showing enough in two juvenile wins to back up her purchase at Arqana Deauville August. Left alone by Andre Fabre after putting 'TDN Rising Star' Commes (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in her place in a mile conditions event at Chantilly in September, the granddaughter of the luminary Sophisticat (Storm Cat) could be set for a significant 2019 campaign.
“She ended last season well. Obviously she is taking on better opposition, but she is a nice filly,” her trainer said. “She's going okay in the morning–I hope she will run a good race and then we will see what to do with her. As she's already won over a mile, stamina is not a problem–but she has enough cruising speed for seven furlongs.”
Fabre also puts forward the Wertheimers' Lucky Jolie (More Than Ready), who was third to Suphala in the first of that stablemate's wins at Chantilly at the start of September before reverting to six furlongs to open her account at Saint-Cloud later that month.
“She looks nice,” the master of Chantilly said of the homebred. “She shows very good acceleration on a morning, so we will see how she handles going back up in trip.”
Course-and-distance G3 Prix Miesque winner Devant (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) adds weight to the contest, as does Alexander Tamagni-Bodmer and Regula Vannod's Listed Criterium du Languedoc scorer Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), so the Classic picture should look clearer after this early skirmish.
In the colts' prep, the Djebel, the form standard is set by Gerard Augustin-Normand's G1 Criterium International third Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Middleham Park Racing's G2 Railway S. and G2 Richmond S. runner-up Marie's Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who was also fourth in the G1 Middle Park S.
“We wanted to run in a trial just to see,” explained the syndicate's Mike Prince. “He's got form in Group 2 and Group 3s, so we'll know if it's worth a crack at a Guineas–whether it's English, French, Irish or German. He's in them all, so we need to see his level of form.”
Fabre relies on Godolphin's Munitions (War Front), whose best piece of form came when second in the Listed Prix Zeddaan over six furlongs at Deauville in October. “Munitions is a good-looking colt. He's a good mover–you can spot him quite clearly in the mornings,” his handler commented. “He's racing over an extra furlong for the first time and he could surprise a few people.” Again the Wertheimers are present via the unbeaten Christophe Ferland-trained Harmless (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}), but he has a lengthy absence to overcome having last run in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure at ParisLongchamp in July.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
