Moussac : Milers looking for a new path
Photo Anodor at 2: scoopdyga.com
Seven 3-year-olds are declared on Sunday at Chantilly in the Prix Paul de Moussac Longines (Gr3) mile race. So far, it could be used as a springboard for the Prix Jean Prat (Gr1), another mile race until this season. It has now been shortened to 7 furlongs so the two races are not that intertwined anymore.
Anodor (Anodin) was among the best juveniles in the country last year. His comeback in French 2,000 Guineas (Gr1), despite some support in the betting, ended by a disappointing yet understandable seventh place. This race gives him the opportunity to redeem himself, but he does not have any room for manoeuvre, however, even tough others need to catch up too. Godolphin's Melicertes (Poet's Voice) has won very easily after being beaten by Eagle Hunter (Dansili), whom he finds here again and who could only finish 4th in the Prix de Pontarmé (L) crushed by the filly Noor Sahara, a runner on Sunday in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
Mission Boy (Paco Boy) was only beaten a short neck in the Italian Derby (Gr2) on heavy ground and 11 furlongs. He will be ridden by Cristian Demuro, who was riding his defeater in Rome and won two weeks ago the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) with Sottsass (name of an Italian designer...).
Pizzicato (Dabirsim) returns to the turf after a very good run on the all-weather tracks which led to his victory in one of the AWT championships in April at Lingfield. He has not run for nearly two months.
Send from Newmarket by John Gosden, Azano (Oasis Dream) was never going to do anything in the Two Thousand Guineas (Gr1). He did not seem to have the required turn of foot or cruising speed to become a factor in the English classic. Will he be more efficient on such a tactical course? That remains to be seen.
The consistent Admiral Rous (Henrythenavigator) has already won three times this season, but he is clearly climbing a higher cliff this time.