6 September 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Once again, the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1), which takes place this Sunday, September 7 on the ParisLongchamp mile, will be the occasion of a final clash between the top milers on the Continent. The first two of the 2019 edition, Circus Maximus (Galileo) and Romanised (HolyRomanEmperor) meet there with Persian King (Kingman), the third aged horse of the lot, who has just finished fourth in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) at Deauville between them two.
Facing them, three 3-year-old colts who were not at the start at Deauville and will therefore try to do as well as Palace Pier and Alpine Star, the first two of the "Marois". Pinatubo (Shamardal) tries to win his second Group 1 of the year after winning two at 2, and the Irish-trained Siskin (First Defense), winner of the Irish Two Thousand Guineas. (Gr1) and unbeaten until his third place in the Sussex Stakes (Gr1), his first race against older horses, won by Mohaather ahead of Circus Maximus.
The French side relies on Victor Ludorum (Shamardal), winner of the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1) and then twice third over 1m2f.
The 3-year-olds were dominant on the Deauville straight. Will the curved mile in Paris favour them again? Answer Sunday at 4:25 p.m!
- 1. PERSIAN KING (c4, IRE by Kingman and Pretty Please, by Dylan Thomas) Rating: 118lbs
Trained in Chantilly by André Fabre, bred by one of his owners, he was considered one of the most promising 2-year-olds in Europe after winning a Group 2 at Newmarket. At 3, he won the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) and then the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1). Second to Sottsass in the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) over 10.5 furlongs, he vanished for the season. Rather disappointing for his comeback, since he was beaten in the Prix de Montretout (L) mile, he redeemed himself in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2), also run over one mile, and confirmed in the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1 ) over 1m1f. He was completely dominated on yielding ground in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) at Deauville for his comeback over the mile.
- 2. CIRCUS MAXIMUS (c4, IRE by Galileo and Duntle, by Danehill Dancer) Rating: 120lbs
Trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, bred by his owners, he won his first Group 1 last year at 3 in the St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr1) after failing in the Epsom Derby. A tough horse, he then took second place in the 2019 Marois and later won the Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1), beating Romanised, who had beaten him at Deauville. Again a winner at Ascot at the Royal meeting this season, he fought all the way in the Sussex Stakes (Gr1), where he conceded less than a length to Mohaather, and again in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) at Deauville.
- 3. ROMANIZED (c5, IRE by Holy Roman Emperor and Romantic Venture, by Indian Ridge) Rating: 118lbs
Trained in Ireland by Ken Condon, winner at 3 of the Two Thousand Guineas in Ireland (Gr1), then of the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) in Deauville before being beaten by Circus Maximus in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1), he has not raced after that because of his aversion to softer grounds. He made a victorious comeback at the Curragh in the Minstrel Stakes (Gr2) over one mile, then couldn't keep up in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) on yielding ground, which he dislikes.
- 4. SISKIN (c3, USA by First Defense and Bird Flown, by Oasis Dream) Rating: 119lbs
Trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, homebred by Khalid Abdullah, he went undefeated in four outings last year, including one in the Phoenix Stakes (Gr1) over 6 furlongs. He was then regarded as one of the very few threats to the juvenile steamroller Pinatubo or Earthlight. He won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Gr1) for his comeback before being beaten by his elders Mohaather and Circus Maximus in the Sussex Stakes (Gr1) over one mile.
- 5. PINATUBO (c3, IRE by Shamardal and Lava Flow, by Dalakhani) Rating: 120lbs
Trained in England by Charlie Appleby, bred by his owners, he was considered one of the best 2yo ever seen across the Channel last year when he won two Groups 1 in Ireland and England over 1,400 meters to remain undefeated . Beaten in his first two outings this season over 1,600 meters, he returned to success over the 1,400 meters of the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) and returns here over 1,600 meters to try to confirm.
- 6. VICTOR LUDORUM (c3, GB by Shamardal and Antiquities, by Kaldounevees) Rating: 116lbs
Trained at Chantilly by André Fabre, bred by his owner, Victor Ludorum easily won his first two races at ParisLongchamp then Chantilly before brilliantly confirming in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1). Odds-on favourite of the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) for his comeback, he was always pointed out of the leading horses that day but was unable to keep up and had to concede second place at the very end. However, he ran much better in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1), which he surely won, taking his revenge over The Summit, who had beaten him in the “Fontainebleau”. He beat him again by taking second place in the Prix du Jockey Club. Too keen on yielding ground over 10 furlongs in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr2), finishing third, he could do well.