3 May 2019
Photo Waldgeist in Prix d'Hédouville 2018 : scoopdyga.com
The main events on Saturday at ParisLongchamp are stepping stones rather than coronations. They all lead to higher heights, so it's a good opportunity to discover some of the champions of tomorrow.
Eight horses aged 4 and over are in the Prix d'Hédouville (Gr3) over 1m4f. This is the next stage after the Prix Lord Seymour (L), run on April 14 on the same course and distance, and won by Nagano Gold (Sixties Icon), trained by Czech master Vaclav Luka and winner of the Czech Saint Leger. On this occasion, he finished ahead of Caravagio (American Post) and Tiberian (Tiberius Caesar), the winner of the 2017 renewal of the Hedouville. Both will take him on again on Saturday.
Waldgeist won the Hedouville last year - the same horse who just won the Prix Ganay (Gr1)!
The previous stage of this classic distance circuit, the Prix de la Porte de Madrid (L), took place at Saint-Cloud on March 26, and it went to Folamour (Intello), fourth in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) in 2018, then third in the Prix du Prince d'Orange (Gr3).
Folamour will try to score again here and his trainer André Fabre also saddles Gyllen (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of the Prix Eugène Adam (Gr2) last August but out since.
From England will come Aspetar (Al Kazeem), trained Roger Charlton. He has just taken a second place in Newbury on the same distance in a Group 3 race. Second in Doha of the Emir Trophy (Local Gr1), Royal Julius (Royal Applause) completes the field with the consistent Petit Fils (Makfi), who runs at this level for the first time.
The next stop will be the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2), on June 2nd. Then it will be the Grand Prix the Saint-Cloud (Gr1), June 30, and, much later, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1).
The Prix de l’Avre (L) brings together six 3-year-old colts over 2,400m/1m4f. The goal for them is the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) on July 14th. Winner of the Prix de l'Avre last year, Neufbosc then finished second after a long and memorable fight with Irish winner Kew Gardens in the Grand Prix.
The Prix de la Seine (L), on the other hand, is run by eight 3-year-old fillies over 2,200m/1m3f, a hybrid distance between the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) over 2,100m, and the Prix de la Royaumont (Gr3), over 2,400m. The latter was won last year by Pollara after she took second place in the Prix de la Seine.
The EBF-sponsored Prix Gold River (L), the fourth selection race on Saturday at Paris Longchamp, is restricted to 4 years old and over mares over the long distance of 2,800m/1m6f. Winner in 2018, Palombe then placed in several Group races in Europe. However, she beat Morgan Le Faye, who then became one of the best European mares on the courses, as she recalled last Sunday in the Prix Allez France Longines (Gr3).