The younger generation takes centre stage this Sunday at Chantilly

This Sunday’s meeting at Chantilly marks the final major Sunday fixture in the Paris region before a break at La Teste-Bassin d’Arcachon and the Deauville meeting. Youth will be in the spotlight, with three races reserved for two-year-olds—two of them for unraced contenders—and most notably the Goffs Prix Robert Papin (Group 2). Two French runners, Moojeed (Dark Angel) and Imperial Me Cen (Mehmas), will attempt to fend off an Irish challenger, Green Sense (Starman), and two British contenders, Tadej (Ardad) and Super Soldier (Dark Angel). Moojeed recently won the prep race, the Prix du Bois Longines (Group 3), finishing ahead of Imperial Me Cen, who came a solid third. Both colts have experience and quality, which may allow them to stand up to the foreign wave. They are, in fact, the only runners in the field to have won a black-type race. Representing the Munir-Souede partnership—better known over jumps—Green Sense made a winning debut at the Curragh, often referred to as the “Irish Longchamp”. He then finished second in a Group 3 at Naas, Ireland, before coming up short at Royal Ascot. Tadej may well be the most formidable of the foreign contenders. He scored at York before finishing sixth in a highly competitive Group 2 at Royal Ascot. Super Soldier (Dark Angel) was runner-up in the Prix La Flèche (Listed). He too was out of the frame at Royal Ascot but remains a strong contender for a top result on Sunday.

Rosa Salvaje returns

Young horses will therefore be in the spotlight on Sunday. In addition to the two-year-olds, three-year-old fillies will line up in the Darley Prix Chloé (Group 3). Rosa Salvaje (Maximum Security), who recently took her chance in the Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1), is set to run and will face off against Relaxx (City Light), winner of the Tattersalls Prix de Bagatelle (Listed). Cathedral (Too Darn Hot), trained by Britain’s Ralph Beckett, was fourth in the Coronation Stakes (Group 1). She is stepping down in class and will likely start as favourite. Paix des Dames (Le Havre) has shown flashes of brilliance throughout her career and could take another step forward here. After winning on debut, Whataboutism (Camelot) came up short in a Listed race, but that hasn’t deterred connections from taking a shot at this Group 3.

A high-class field in the Messidor

A potential stepping stone to the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois (Group 1) at Deauville, the Prix Messidor (Group 3) has drawn ten runners. A three-time Group 3 winner over the mile, Alcantor (New Bay) will be one to watch, though he faces stiff competition from Geography (Holy Roman Emperor), a Group winner in Germany; the iron horse Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar); Ridari (Churchill), winner of the Prix de Fontainebleau (Group 3) and fifth in the Poule d’Essai (Group 1); and Caramelito (Zarak), a model of consistency at this level.