The French classic season starts this weekend
Photo : scoopdyga.com
Sunday at Chantilly and Monday at Maisons-Laffitte are the first steps in the French classic road leading to the French Guineas, Derby and Oaks...
Sunday, April 9, 2017, Chantilly. - Four Group races are held on Sunday on Chantilly turf, two of which are the first stages on the road to the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby-Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks-Gr1), and the first Group 2 of the year, the Prix d'Harcourt, a prep for the traditional first top contest of the year, the Prix Ganay (May 1st, Gr1).
Recent Prix Exbury (Gr3) winner Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars) will try to confirm in the Prix d'Harcourt against ten first-rate rivals, such as One Foot In Heaven (Fastnet Rock, winner of the Prix du Conseil Municipal-Gr2 in 2016), 2016 Prix Hocquart (Gr2) winner Mekhtaal (Sea the Stars) and English raider Robin of Navan (American Post), winner of the 2015 Critérium de Saint-Cloud at 2 and Gr1-placed last year.
Cloth of Stars also won the Prix La Force (Gr3) last year. The race has been shortened from 10 to 9 furlongs to better fit in the progressive classic program. Twelve 3-year-old will take part in this renewal on Sunday. In the Fillies equivalent, the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3), they are nine to claim a seat on the way to the Prix de Diane Longines, on June 18.
The Prix Sigy (Gr3) is a sprint for 3yos blessed with the presence of an already famous although still very young grey lady named Mrs Randvers (Hellvelyn). She starts her second season after an impeccable first year, of which she came out unbeaten in five outings, including a Newmarket Group 3 to draw the season to a close. She was unsold £1,000 at Ascot in February 2016, but has made 200 times that price since then and is worth "one million pounds " according to a Times report last year…
Monday at Maisons-Laffitte, the 2017 classic season is really getting off with the Prix Djebel (Gr3, colts) and the Prix Imprudence (Gr3, fillies), for 3yos over Maisons-Laffitte’s straight 7 furlongs. Both races have gathered 8 runners, some of which are already preceded by a flattering reputation... Winner of the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) on Arc weekend last October in Chantilly, National Defense (Invincible Spirit, pictured), a colt trained by Criquette Head-Maarek and owned by Hong Kong owners Ting Kong and Danielle Cheng, of Sun Bloodstock, leads the way.