Prix Maurice de Nieuil : Marmelo meets new foes
Photo scoopdyga.com
The second highlight of the Bastille day meeting at ParisLongchamp after the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) is an aged horses race over 2 800 meters, or 1m6f
Six runners are in to succeed English raider Marmelo (Duke of Marmalade), who's back in the race for a double that's never been made before.
He is actually the only one returning from the 2018 renewal of the race. Since then, he went on to take the second place in the Melbourne Cup (Gr1) at Flemington! He finished fifth in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) last time out.
The famous French stayer Holdthasigreen (Hold That Tiger) is back in the game 49 days after his fifth place in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2). Way To Paris (Champs Elysees) gave his best that day and finished 2nd, beating Call the Wind (Frankel), who was back from a Dubai stint in the Winter. Last fall, he won the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1) over 4,000 metres or 2m4f.
The field is completed by two young recruits in the stayers division, the 4-year-old mares Shahnaza (Azamour) and Ligne d'Or (Dansili). The former tries this sport after falling three consecutive times to the mighty Morgan Le Faye over shorter distances. The latter was beaten by Shahnaza last year in the Prix de Flore (Gr3), and she failed completely for her return in La Coupe (Gr3). Both were tested once last year over 2,500 meters, in two separate events, and finished third and fourth, respectively.