22 May 2020
Photo Barbevillle 2019 : scoopdyga.com
The 2020 edition of the Prix de Barbeville (Gr3) is a very special one. It takes place this year over 1m7f, that is 100 yards shorter than usual, in Deauville instead of ParisLongchamp, and at the end of May rather than in April.
Nevertheless, it will still be the scene of a first confrontation for the best French stayers, delayed this year and then moved due to the epidemic.
They are five at the start because several regulars of this type of meeting are missing. Two of the main ones are well in though, as the titleholder Holdthasigreen (Hold that Tiger) will once again compete with Call the Wind (Frankel), who has just covered his connections with gold in Saudi Arabia ...
- Holdthasigreen (g8, FRA by Hold That Tiger and Greentathir, by Muhtathir) Rating: 116
Winner of this event last year after a prep race, he likes to lead on his own and has often succeeded like this in this class of races. He could not, however, follow up last season in the Summer, but won again on his return in October in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), over 2:4f, beating Call the Wind, whom he meets again here. This time, he will start without a run under his belt since he has not been out since his third place in the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1), behind Logician and… Call the Wind!
- Libello (h7, IRE by Archipenko and Scarlett’s Pride, by Singspiel) Rating: 96
Beaten by seven lengths by Holdthasigreen in this race last year, he also failed to get on the podium in his subsequent outings at a lower level. However, he won this winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer a conditions' race.
- Diluvien (g5, FRA by Manduro and Soldera, by Polish Numbers) Rating: 105
Coming from handicaps, this consistent gelding ended the 2019 season by winning his second attempt at Listed level, in the Prix Denisy (L), on very heavy ground. However, he also won on good ground last summer at Deauville.
- Call the Wind (g6, GB by Frankel and In Clover, by Inchinor) Rating: 119
Sired by a champion miler, his siblings have mostly succeeded on distances shorter than 1m1/2. He proved himself within the staying division in 2018 by winning the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1) over 2m4f. He made regularly the frame on the European stayers circuit. In February, he ran in the first edition of a main, highly endowed handicap in Saudi Arabia. Further down, he had to make a return trip to the Emirates when the races he was being aimed at were cancelled. He has already won on his return, though.
- Or Gris (g4, FRA by Gris de Gris and Caprice Flore, by Kotky Bleu) Rating: 88
He's the only 4 years old at the start, and was supplemented to participate in the race and has the advantage of having made his comeback on February 15. Maiden until July 2019, he then won in November over 1m7f in a Class 1 race in Angers. He is trying his luck at a higher level.