Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club Preview: Sottsass follows his plan

The first three home in the last Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) gather again at the start of the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano - Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (Gr2), Saturday in Deauville, and two of the first three in the previous edition of the Chantilly classic also meet again on the same card in the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Gr3), which is the replica open to older horses, and also contested over 1m2f.
Winner of the 2019 Jockey Club and recently of the Prix Ganay (Gr1) on the same course, Sottsass (Siyouni) is getting ready for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) as planned. It is a route that his trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, has already chosen in the past for some of his contenders for the Arc or other Autumn challenges, like Olmedo last year, and with less success with Almanzor two years earlier.
His champion seems to have a good leeway this Saturday, because his third from the Jockey-Club, Motamarris (Le Havre), has just been well beaten after a promising return, while the other best rating of the race, Skalleti (Kendargent), seems a little below his best level, even if he has already won at Group 2 level. This is because, to beat Sottsass, barring an incident, you need a real Group 1 horse.
In other words, on paper, whoever beats Sottsass will have won the race!

• 1. SOTTSASS (c4, FRA by Siyouni and Scarlet’s Sister, by Galileo) rating: 120lbs

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for White Birch Farm, he was bought for € 340,000 at the Deauville sales. A good winner at 2 at Clairefontaine, he made an impression when winning the Prix de Suresnes (L) by six lengths on his second outing of the season and confirmed in a flash of class in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), beating the race and course record.
Winner for his return in the Prix Niel (Gr3) at ParisLongchamp in September, he showed that he could stay the 1m4f which was proven by his third place in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Fourth in the Prix Harcourt (Gr2) for his comeback this year, he then confirmed his return to the fore by barely resisting Way to Paris in the Prix Ganay (Gr1) at Deauville.

• 2. MOTAMARRIS (c4, IRE by Le Havre and Thamarat, by Anabaa) Rating: 109lbs

Trained at Chantilly, bred by his owner, he entered the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) undefeated in three outings and behaved very well, finishing third to Sottsass. Ou since then, he made a victorious comeback in the Grand Prix de Compiègne (L) this year and had to settle for fourth place in the 9-furlong Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1), over a shorter distance than those he has been tried before.

• 3. SUBWAY DANCER (g8, IRE by Shamardal and Sub Rose, by Galileo) Rating: 106lbs

Trained in the Czech Republic, this veteran of the European middle distance championships has made the news over the course of his long international career. For example, he finished third in the Champion Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot in 2018 and his last outing last year in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2) showed that he was a force to reckon at the best level. However, he has not caused a sensation this season but can come back on a heavy ground that is supposed to favour him.

• 4. MR SATCHMO (g5, FRA by Mr Sidney and Windya, by Linamix) Rating: 104lbs

Trained at Mont-de-Marsan, he won his last two outings last year, including the Grand Prix de Marseille (L) from start to finish on a very soft ground. He then failed in Doha, Qatar. Coming back in Bordeaux, he was hampered entering the straight, giving in after leading, and he finished third later in La Coupe (Gr3) at ParisLongchamp. He was a good fourth last time out in the Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr3).

• 5. SKALLETI (g5, FRA by Kendargent and Skallet, by Muhaymin) Rating: 112lbs

Trained in Provence, he had won seven races on distances ranging from 1m to 1m2f, and had won two Group 2 races in France and Italy before his Winter bow. He has just finished third for his comeback after six months out with a 4lbs penalty, and again took a third place in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2) won by Persian King.

• 6. AWAY HE GOES (g4, IRE by Farhh and Island babe, by Kingmambo) Rating: 93lbs

Trained in England, he won two of his three races at age 3 last year and has been twice beaten in handicaps this season. Gelded in June, he ran immediately after and took a second place in a handicap with a 93lbs rating, which is probably less than what will be necessary here to win.

• 7. NAIDA (f4, GER by Reliable Man and Nacella, by Banyumanik) Theoretical value: 44.5kg

Trained in Germany, he was bought € 530,000 at the Arqana Arc sale last year, after his second place in the German Preis der Diana (Gr2). She is the only female in the field and is only 4. Since her purchase, however, she has run three times this season and has not made much of an impression so far.