2 October 2020
Photo Qatar Prix du Cadran 2018 : scoopdyga.com
The two Group 1 races run on the first day of the Qatar Prix de Arc de Triomphe weekend are stamina tests. The Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), one of the oldest races on the French program, brings together nine runners at the start of the 2m4f in this Paris marathon. However, defending champion Holdthasigreen is missing and all of his October 2019 opponents for that matter except one. The winner of the 2018 edition, second last year, Call the Wind (Frankel), is indeed at the start again. His rating is 7 pounds higher than the second-best opponent on paper, the Irish-trained Barbados (Galileo), fourth in the Irish St. Leger (Gr1) last time out and for the moment only winner of his maiden race ...
Call the Wind has just easily won the Darley Prix Kergorlay (Gr2).
He had missed out on the Prix Gladiateur (Gr3), the final preparatory race, contested on September 6 at ParisLongchamp over a little less than 2 miles. That day, behind Called to the Bar, Think Of Me (So You Think), Sublimis (Shamardal) and Windstoss (Shirocco), who had just been beaten by Call the Wind in Deauville, were respectively second, third and fourth. The great unknown would rather be Princess Zoe (Jukebox Jury), an Irish raider who originates from Germany and won her last four races, loves heavy going, and has continued to improve ...
She could also have run in the other Group 1 of the day, the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr1), for females aged 3 and up, over 1m6f. Promoted in 2019 after having been lengthened from 2,500 to 2,800 metres, this race attracts fillies and mares from all Europe. Five runners come from England, two from Ireland and one from Germany. England's Manuela de Vega (Lope de Vega) has faced the very best over 1m4f this season at 4 and last year, and she would find fair compensation here, but the 3-year-olds look good enough, and they are pretty much all rated within a 7lbs bracket ... A common form is still missing!
Another stayers race, the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), for 3-year-olds over 1m7f, brings together six wannabee stayers. These potential 2021 Cadran runners could also have to cope with a potential 2021 Royallieu favourite since one of the most interesting propositions is the Aga Khan's filly Valia (Sea the Stars), who was disappointing last time out in the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) over 1m4f here but is certainly better than that.
Like every year, the Qatar Prix Dollar (Gr2), over 1m2f with a great defending champion that is Skalleti (Kendargent), and Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2) mile race, showcasing the return of a great miler on the mud, The Revenant (Dubawi), are captivating races opposing the 3 years old to their elders.
There is also the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 - PA), which crowns the best Arabian 4-year-old fillies, but the richest race of the day, with a total €250,000 purse up to grabs, is still the Haras de Bouquetot Critérium of the October Arqana sale. Restricted to the mentioned sale's graduates, it brings together 18 juveniles at the start of a mile ...