26 June 2020
Photo Way to Paris : scoopdyga.com
7-year-old Way to Paris (Champs Elysees) might find here his best occasion so far to finally score at Gr1 level in a soft renewal of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), a 1m1/2 affair for aged horses.
Indeed, the Paolo Ferrario-owned horse seems better than ever as he pushed Sottsass to the wire in the Prix Ganay (Gr1), where he was beaten by only a head over an extended 1m1/4. Facing four rivals including two who haven't been around for months and two others who have failed so far this season, the grey seems in the right place and the right time on Sunday for the 112nd Grand Prix.
- 1. WAY TO PARIS (h7, GB by Champs Elysees ex Grey Way, by Cozzene) Rating: 116lbs
Bought for £50,000 as a yearling, this brother of an Italian Group 1 winner began his career in Italy, where he won a Listed at 3, and followed his trainer, Andrea Marcialis, when he moved to France in 2016. Since then, he has consistently got good results over distances varying from 10 to over 12 furlongs. He's had a good run early last year over long trips, culminating in his success in the Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) over 14 furlongs. Well beaten in his last two attempts in 2019 in the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak, he took the sixth place for his return in the Prix Exbury (Gr3), over 10 furlongs at St.Cloud, finished very well in second in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) and won easily the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) in Deauville. He more than confirmed in his latest run as he finished close to Sottsass over the Prix Ganay (Gr1)’s 10.5 furlongs and will be better suited by this 12 furlong-trip.
- 2. OLD PERSIAN (h5, GB by Dubawi ex Indian Petal, by Singspiel) Rating: 118lbs
He revealed himself at 3 by winning a handicap, then a Listed race before winning at Royal Ascot meeting in the King Edward VII Stakes (Gr2), the local Derby. Also a winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr2) at York, he finished only fifth in the next classic event, the St.Leger (Gr1). Winner of a Group 1 in Dubai, he then alternated good and lesser deeds and has not raced since a failed attempt at the Breeders’Cup Turf (Gr1) in California. He will, therefore, make his comeback. He looks better on good ground.
- 3. NAGANO GOLD (h6, GB by Sixties Icon ex Never Enough, by Monsun) Rating: 116lbs
Coming from the Czech Republic, he is a regular feature in this type of race but could only win at the Listed level so far. He will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, with whom he came close to a major upset in the 2019 Hardwicke Stakes (Gr2) at Royal Ascot. It's a race similar to this one and since then, Nagano Gold and Soumillon finished third in the Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2) behind Ziyad. After that, the horse was clearly beaten in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) and he hasn't run since.
- 4. FOLAMOUR (g5, GB by Intello ex Zagzig, by Selkirk) Rating: 106lbs
Bred by the Wertheimers, he won on his fourth attempt after three places in the spring of his 3-year-old season. Clearly beaten in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), he finished this first campaign with a third place in the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Gr3). Winner for his return at 4 in a Listed over 1 ½ mile, then second over the same distance in the Prix d'Hédouville (Gr3), he took the fourth place in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2). Out all summer, he only competed once more, when third in the Prix Lyphard (L) at Deauville over the all-weather track in November. He did not show much for his 2020 return in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2), and not again in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) last time out in Deauville.
- 5. ZIYAD (g5, GB by Rock of Gibraltar ex Arme Ancienne, by Sillery) Rating: 111lbs
This Wertheimers homebred hails from the family of the French Oaks winner Aquarelliste and started his season in March over the all-weather at Chantilly, beating Soleil Marin and Villa Rosa there. Very consistent for about a year, second in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) in 2019 for his 4th race of the season, he had not run for a while when well-beaten lately in the 2020 renewal of the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2), run at Deauville. He needs to make amends.