30 May 2020
Photo prix de Saint-Georges : scoopdyga.com
The first seven horses home in the prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), run on May 11th at ParisLongchamp, are meeting again in the prix du Gros-Chêne (Gr2), also run over 5 furlongs but over Deauville's straight course rather than Chantilly's as usual.
The weight conditions are the same and Batwan (Kendargent), who won that day by half a length over Gold Vibe (Dream Ahead), should start amongst the race's favourites.
The two newcomers here are Euryale (Kendargent), who won for his return on the all-weather in March but never ran over 5 furlongs, and Finsbury Square (Siyouni), winner of this race in 2018 but out since October.
- 1. TOUR TO PARIS (h5, FRA by Fuissé and Théoricienne, by Kendor) Rating: 101lbs
He arrived undefeated from Hungary, where he started his career after being bought € 3,000 as a yearling at the Deauville sales. It was in April 2019, and he won his first race in France under for Chantilly trainer Pia Brandt with ease. Significantly beaten immediately after, he redeemed himself on the Deauville all-weather track in the Summer, where he finished second before winning again. He prevailed once more at Maisons-Laffitte in a Listed event at the end of the season but failed regularly this winter in Dubai, for his return at Chantilly in March and in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3).
- 2. SESTILIO JET (h5, FRA by French Fifteen and Hideaway Girl, by Fasliyev) Rating: 106lbs
Bought as a yearling for € 17,000 in Deauville, he began his career in Italy before definitively joining the Andrea Marcialis' Chantilly yard, and he ended the year 2018 with two wins. One of which was on all-weather. Last year, he finished third twice, at the start of the season after his comeback, before winning this same event. He couldn’t do much against Inns of Court in the Prix du Gros-Chêne (Gr2) but didn’t really confirm his best form on his next three outings in the Autumn. He led most of the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) for his return and held on for the 3rd place.
- 3. WE GO (h4, FRA by No Nay Never and Encore Merci, by Danehill Dancer) Rating: 107lbs
Purchased € 22,000 at the yearlings sales in Deauville, he won his maiden well on his second outing, at 2 over 6 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte. He then took the third place in the coveted Darley Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) in Deauville but failed in his last outing over 7 furlongs in the Prix La Rochette (Gr3). He then alternated good and not that good races at 3, but won his last race of the season, and confirmed with two victories again last Winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer then at Chantilly on the all-weather track, but he was never seen in a good position in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) lately.
- 4. RED TORCH (h5, FRA by Airchief Marshall and Red Kiss, by Fasliyev) Rating: 101lbs
He won his first race in a handicap after nine attempts but had been placed often. He continued in handicaps around 6 furlongs until last summer. He then went on to win a Listed in Berlin but was unable to confirm in two French Group 3 sprints thereafter, but nevertheless ended his season in a conditional race at Fontainebleau. For his return in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), he lost some ground early on and stayed on from the rear to finish at a length in 4th.
- 5. GOLD VIBE (g7, IRE by Dream Ahead and Whisper Dance, by Stravinsky) Rating: 104lbs
Purchased £ 300,000 yearling, he is now 7 and is reaching € 300,000 in earnings. A consistent gelding, he is one of the best French sprinters, even though he has not won since September 2017. Second in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) in 2018, fourth last year, he was disappointing in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1) and tends to race from the rear. He once again finished well to take the second place in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) for his return this season.
- 6. BATWAN (g5, FRA by Kendargent and Matwan, by Indian Rocket) Rating: 104lbs
He was unsold at € 25,000 at the Deauville yearling sales and races for his breeder. He started in the winter of his 3-year-old year at Cagnes-sur-Mer with a win, and aimed the best races soon thereafter without winning in this category but doing well, still. Second in the 2019 Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) after also taking the second place in a Listed race a month earlier, he had not been seen since the when he scored handsomely 20 days ago in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3).
- 7. EURYALE (h6, IRE par Kendargent et Russian Hill, par Indian Ridge) Rating: 97lbs
Bought for €30,000 at the Arqana Autumn sale in November 2018, he had been gelded at 2 and started for the first time with a win in May at 3. Consistent the whole season, racing around 6 furlongs, he took a Listed 2nd place at Hoppegarten in Germany and was sold soon after that. He kept that sort of routine in conditions’ races and handicaps and won for his return in March over 6 ½ furlongs on the Chantilly all-weather. He’s run only once under 6 furlongs when 5th in a Listed race over Maisons-Laffitte’s straight course.
- 8. FINSBURY SQUARE (h8, IRE par Siyouni et Diamond Square, par Dyhim Diamond) Rating: 99lbs
Now 8, he’s not won since he took this very race in 2018 after finishing 4th, 3rd and 2nd in the same stakes! Since that last win, however, he finished 4th in the King’s Stands’ Stakes (GR1) at Royal Ascot, then failed in the Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1). He’s run only three times in 2019, and couldn’t make the frame at this level.
- 9. KEN COLT (g5, IRE by Kendargent and Velvet Revolver, by Mujahid) Rating: 105lbs
He was unsold at € 20,000 at the Deauville yearling sales but won for his debut at Deauville at 2. He then failed to reach a podium in the pattern circuit but neared that goal several times until taking third place in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) last year, after leading most of it. He confirmed by winning the Prix du Cercle (L) the following summer in Deauville before failing in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1). He was keen ahead in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3) lately but couldn’t keep up in the last 50 yards.