Ganay preview: Sottsass back in court

This year more than ever since only French-trained horses are allowed to compete, the Prix Ganay (Gr1), a race for 4-yer-olds and up run over 10.5 furlongs, looks very much like the prix d’Harcourt (Gr2). Four of the five runners were already at the start on May 11th at ParisLongchamp. There is a big difference, though: this time, they will be running at Chantilly …

• 1. WAY TO PARIS (GB, h7 by Champs Elysees ex Grey Way, by Cozzene) Rating: 116lbs

Bought for £50,000 as a yearling, this brother of an Italian Group 1 winner began his career in Italy, where he won a Listed at 3, and followed his trainer, Andrea Marcialis, when he moved to France in 2016. Since then, he has consistently got good results over distances varying from 10 to over 12 furlongs. He's had a good run early last year over long trips, culminating in his success in the Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) over 14 furlongs. Well beaten in his last two attempts in 2019 in the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak, he took the sixth place for his return in the Prix Exbury (Gr3), over 10 furlongs at St.Cloud, finished very well in second in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) and won easily the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2) in Deauville in his latest run.

• 2. SHAMAN (Ire, h4 by Shamardal ex Only Green, by Green Desert) Rating: 115lbs

Bred by the Wertheimers, out of a Listed winner and Group-placed over 7 furlongs, from the family also of Group 1 performers Occupandiste and Intello, he won first time out, in the summer of his 2-year-old season. Placed later, he failed in the Grand Critérium (Gr1) but won again at the end of that year. A winner again upon his return in the Prix Omnium II (L) over 1 mile, then in the Prix La Force (Gr3) over 9 furlongs, he took the second place in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1) before failing at the Royal Ascot meeting against the best European 3yrs over the mile. Second in the Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr1) for his return to France, he finally bowed out on a third place in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2) and made a winning come back in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2).

• 3. SOTTSASS (FRA, h4 by Siyouni ex Starlet’s Sister, by Galileo). Rating: 120lbs

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for White Birch Farm, bred by Écurie des Monceaux, he was bought as a yearling for € 340,000 at Deauville. A good winner at 2 at Clairefontaine, he impressed in his six lengths success in the Prix de Suresnes (L) for his second outing of the season and confirmed with a flash of class in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), beating the race and course record on this occasion.

Winner for his return in September of the Prix Niel (Gr3) at ParisLongchamp, he placed an acceleration that day which showed the mile-and-a-half distance was not to be an issue, which he confirmed by taking the third place in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Fourth in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) with a 2lbs penalty for his return, he should do better this time.

• 4. SIMONA (f4, FRA by Siyouni ex Monava, by El Prado) Rating: 110lbs

A newcomer at the best level, the 4-year-old mare Simona won easily the first Turf Group race of the year in Europe, the Prix Exbury (Gr3), over 10 furlongs and very heavy ground in March at Saint-Cloud. She was third in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) after leading the race. Four times unplaced at Listed level at the end of last year, Simona races for her breeders Carolyn and Nigel Elwes and is trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard.

Simona was bred in France. She is the fifth foal out of Monava, who was purchased for €35,000 after her racing career at Arqana sales. She had won only once for her breeders, the Wertheimer brothers, at the minor Croise-Laroche track, but her dam Moiava was a champion 2-year-old in France and descended from a consistent family providing a steady flow of good winners, as she was herself.

• 5. PALOMBA (f4, IRE by Lope de Vega ex Australienne, by Monsun) Rating: 104lbs

She won her maiden at Argentan, finished third in the Prix Minerve (Gr3) at Deauville last Summer and finished her season with a win in the Prix Vulcain (L) over 12.5 furlongs, in October on very heavy ground. This is her return to competition this season.