30 August 2019
Photo In Favour : scoopdyga.com
The Prix de Lutèce (Gr3), a race for 3-year-olds over 15 furlongs on ParisLongchamp's main course is a feature ov racing's return to Paris on Sunday, September 1. It is part of the young stayers program that leads to the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), run Arc day's eve.
It is preceded by the Prix Michel Houyvet (L), over 14 furlongs at Deauville early in August. This previous event was won by San Huberto, beating Verimli. Both are away on Sunday even though they are well entered in the Chaudenay. Third in Deauville, In Favour (Frankel), however, tries again. The Juddmonte homebred is trying to follow the path of another winner of this event for these connections and rainer André Fabre, that is Coastal Path in 2007. Their form is very different as the latter was undefeated and won his fourth victory in this race while In Favour, who belongs to the same family as the champion mare Midday and the Oaks winner Reams of Verse, finally won after two failed attempts at 2, was beaten twice again at 3 before scoring for the second time, over 1m4f, then finished sixth in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) before his first test on the longest distance of 2,800 meters, the Prix Michel Houyvet ...
Nevertheless, he's got the best rating going into the race, a pound over the only English raider Moonlight Spirit (Dubawi), third in the Prix du Lys (Gr3) on this racecourse in May, then fourth in the Queen's Vase (Gr2) at Royal Ascot. He hasn't been seen in action since then, two and a half months ago.
André Fabre also tries something here with Homer (Sea the Stars), who won his last two races but has never experience such competition, on paper at least. This Niarchos family homebred related to Irish Oaks winner Chicquita finished second for his debut last May, beaten by Verimli, the very second of the Michel Houyvet mentioned above. Homer, who was entered five times at age 2 but did not run then, won twice at Clairefontaine lately and he could be up to something.
Faced with these three leaders, three fillies were supplemented. None of them are entered in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr1), a female race promoted to Group 1 this year and run over 14 furlongs during the Arc weekend. Think Of Me (So You Think) has just won for his debut at Clairefontaine the last time Homer won. Salmana (Nathaniel) won her 15-furlongs handicap in Deauville, rated 75, and was raised by 7lbs for this 1.5 length win. The third filly, Night Del Rais (Naaqoos) is rated 60.