Usual suspects in Eclipse and Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte
Photo Prix Eclipse 2018 : scoopdyga.com
Two Group 3 races are contested on Monday on the Maisons-Laffitte racecourse. The Prix Eclipse (Gr3) is a 6 furlongs race for 2-year-olds won last year by Sporting Chance, who then finished fifth in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2) on the same course and then tried his luck at the best level in Meydan. In the Eclipse, the English raider beat Space Traveller, who won a Gr2 lately and was placed in the Jersey Stakes (Gr3) at Royal Ascot, and Graignes, fourth in the last edition of the French 2,000 Guineas (Gr1).
The only runner from Great Britain this time, Nina Balairina (Lope de Vega) was beaten for her debut but never gave in and she won her maiden race straight after that by 5 lengths at Newmarket. Her trainer Ed Walker supplemented her in this € 80,000 race.
The French favourite will probably be Golden Boy (Siyouni), who has just made a nice impression by winning his first race at Deauville this summer on yielding ground in a well-regarded lot. He was beaten nearly two lengths for his debut, three weeks earlier, by Devil (Siyouni), who then failed in the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1) but returns here at a lower level.
Abama (Alhebayeb) won twice lately for Malcolm Parrish. Jolie (Power) has become the benchmark for all Group races for 2 years since the start of the French season, but she is still maiden. Nevertheless, her owners made nearly €134,000 with the premiums!
The other important main race on the day is the Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr3), for 3-year-olds and up over ten furlongs. Intellogent (Intello) will try to win his first race of the season after three failed attempts in Group 1 company. He will have to deal with Trais Fluors (Dansili), who is a regular on the podiums at this level this season but struggles to win in a Group race.
The field is completed by Japan-bred Monde Chat Luna (Neo Universe), who did well last Summer in the Provinces, Magical Dreamer (Acclamation), out since she was unplaced in the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) mile in July, and Villa Rosa (Doctor Dino), fourth in the Lucien Barrière Grand Prix Deauville (Gr2) recently, two months after winning the Grand Prix de Lyon (L).