Sunday previews

Deauville's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny has proven a happy hunting ground for Royal Ascot winners in recent years and Wathnan Racing's G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Shareholder (Not This Time) is the latest to try a unique double on Sunday. The trouble for that unbeaten colt is that he faces a real threat not just from outside his own yard but also from within. Karl Burke saddles a live second contender in Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {GB}),...

With all three of France's Classics staged so far in 2024 falling to unexposed types, Sunday's 175th edition of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly could be poised for more of the same as the fast-improving TDN Rising Star Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is asked her biggest question. Going from an 11-length win at Lyon-Parilly in November to a 3 1/2-length defeat of the subsequently listed-placed Wootton Zi (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Saint-Cloud's Prix Durban in April, Scuderia Dei Duepi, Ecurie des Charmes and Ballylinch...

   Sunday's black-type action is spread across Europe, with Goodwood's Listed Weatherbys/British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. one of the lesser of its kind in terms of status but possibly the most interesting of all given that it acts as the platform for the second act of TDN Rising Star Sea Just In Time (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Sunderland Holdings' homebred impressed on debut at Newmarket's Guineas Festival and holds an entry in the G1 Irish Oaks. "She's taking a while to come to herself and still looks a...

While it is true that there is only one Derby, and what a Derby that was on Saturday, 24 hours after the Epsom jamboree there is a Classic of a different kind to help ease the comedown. Chantilly hosts the 184th renewal of the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, which is a special if idiosyncratic monument in its own right staged over the rare trip of 10 1/2 furlongs. Therefore offering a contrasting test to the Blue Riband, the old "French Derby" is losing no ground on its counterpart...

The first British fillies' Classic of the season sees a fairly even split of homebreds versus sales graduates. The latter group features a seven-figure filly--Ylang Ylang--all the way down to a €20,000 purchase in Tamfana. Several of these are also related to noteworthy Classic winners, but Guineas form is few and far between. May the best filly win. For the full Guineas field, please click here.   CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) Shamardal--Espadrille (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) Pedigree/form notes: The Godolphin homebred and second foal out of her winning dam is undefeated in...

Saint-Cloud stage the key fayre on Sunday, with the G1 Criterium International and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud offering the juvenile crop a late opportunity to flaunt Classic pretensions. In the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Ballydoyle look for their first winner since 2010 with the impressive Curragh maiden winner Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while the Joseph O'Brien-trained compatriot Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will provide clues as to the merit of his G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. conqueror Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Godolphin's unbeaten Andre Fabre-trained TDN Rising Star Casapueblo...

   With no Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lurking in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the way is clear for Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to bag that elite contest that his portfolio demands. Having met his match in Ace Impact (Ire) in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Yeguada Centurion SL's G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner came up short against Cheveley Park Stud's high-class filly in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month but that form...

Having succumbed to Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 St James's Palace S., Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lines up in Deauville's G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat on Sunday with reputation intact 24 hours on from the Eclipse heroics of that ascendant peer. This is an unusual target for a 2000 Guineas winner, but the pace that the Kingsclere star displayed initially at Royal Ascot suggests the seven-furlong contest will be a perfect fit. That early speed also won out in the Champagne, the Dewhurst and the Guineas...

Outbattled at Newmarket, The Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) returns to The Curragh for what could prove ample compensation in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas. Unable to provide Dermot Weld with that elusive 1000 Guineas victory, the G1 Moyglare S.-winning TDN Rising Star bids to give her trainer a sixth of these. "She was a bit tired after the race, but she travelled home on the ferry and came home well and then she has picked up nicely and we've been pleased with her," her trainer said. "It...

   As it was at Newmarket, ParisLongchamp's ground is going to take some getting through for the protagonists in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and it is safe to say that appreciation of give underfoot is essential. That applies to several of the star colts and fillies lining up for the first domestic Classics and it is certain to be no worse than the testing going that Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) had to deal with at Newbury last...

Saturday's dour weather at Newmarket means that only the tough need apply in Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. A preference for testing ground is a must and so TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) seems in pole position given how electric she was on it when dealing with Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September. Dermot Weld resisted the temptation to come here with Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) 12 months ago, despite the fact that she could have ended...

While Saratoga continues to thrill across the Atlantic, the long hot summer of 2022 rolls on with Deauville staging its own prolonged festival to draw the elite to Normandy's cradle of racing. The G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois is arguably the jewel of the whole month and has attracted some notable actors on Sunday including Godolphin's exciting Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). At this mile trip, Charlie Appleby has the material this season with the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. already...