Our weekend esctional timing report: Sprinters everywhere!

Sosie somewhat boosted the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) form with his impressive victory in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), beating the stayer Illinois. The race started off slowly, with the leader Sibayan covering the first 7 furlongs in 1’32”7 compared to 1’27”6 last year (Winter Pudding, ground 3.4), 1’28”6 in 2022 (Simca Mille, 3.3), and 1’33”9 by The Mediterranean on soft ground (3.8) in 2021. In 2020, the race took place in September, so the comparison might not be very relevant.

However, with a leisurely start, the last edition of the Grand Prix de Paris participants enjoyed a free-for-all finish. Thus, Delius, who finished third, recorded the best furlong time in 10”9, slightly faster than Tamfana, who also came from the back in a sprint closing. Interestingly, both colts clocked this time from in the 3rd last furlong, whereas Sosie, as usual, was faster in the penultimate interval (11”). Quickly up with the pace outside the leader Sibayan, Illinois was third at the furlong pole behind Tamfana. Still, he regained the advantage to finish by slowing down less than his rival, who eventually let Delius pass.

Mondo Man, who finished fifth, was somewhat disappointing. He had finished strongly in his last two outings, in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (best last 3 furlongs from the back) and then at Ascot in the King Edward VII (Gr2). Repeated efforts like this can take their toll, perhaps more so than tougher front-running races in the English style. Conversely, Illinois, likely to be seen next in the St. Leger or earlier against older horses in the Goodwood Cup (Gr1) or at York in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr2), could become one of the season's top stayers.

In the Prix de Malleret (Gr2), over 1m1/2, Survie confirmed her impressive Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) second place by winning by one and a quarter lengths over Mosaïque, who came from sixth place after winning the Darley Prix de Thiberville (Gr3) in 2’36”3, 2.7 seconds faster than here on marginally quicker ground (3.5 vs. 3.6).

Mosaïque clocked the fastest section of the race, 10”7, in the 2nd last furlong, moving from fifth to second place against 10”8 for the winner. However, Survie finished faster in 11”2 compared to 11”3 for her rival.

According to these clockings, they significantly outperformed the others.

The wire-to-wire victory of Double Major over 1m6f in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) was also quite convincing. The Wertheimers representative led from start to finish, controlling Shembala, who ran second throughout. Ottery finished strongly to move from fifth to third place, clocking the fastest section of the race in 10”7 in the 2nd last furlong without faltering afterwards. The top four completed their runs in approximately 11”4, with the order unchanged in this section.

On Sunday at Chantilly, newcomer Zarigana’s victory in the Prix de la Butte Blanche suggested the emergence of a new star. The granddaughter of Zarkava won stylishly in 1’3”4 over 7 furlongs, breaking the 11-second barrier in the 2nd last furlong, covered in 10”8. Similarly impressive was Scandalo’s win in the colts’ race, finishing at 1’2”6, 0.8 seconds faster, but without breaking the 11-second mark. A whole second was lost by the fillies from 5 to 4 furlongs out, where the favourite in Scandalo’s race, Green Cape, was faster than Khadidja, the leader among the fillies.

The times for the 9 furlongs of the Darley Prix Chloé (Gr3) are surprising. Seven of the eight runners covered the penultimate, fastest section in less than 11 seconds, as the first part of the race was particularly slow: 54”5 over half a mile for St Elvira compared to 50”1 for North Hunter on the same course in the handicap of the day, which was run about 4 seconds faster than the Chloé. But what a collective turn of speed from the fillies! Blush’s win, coming from far back, is particularly noteworthy, even though the third-placed Love Rush, who also had to wait due to her draw in stall 8, clocked 33”2 over the 3 furlongs compared to 33”4 for the winner. Both finished in 11” and 11”1, respectively.

However, Skellet, more consistent in her effort, finished second after running in third throughout, and the best interval belonged to the penultimate runner, Luiza Béré (drawn 7), who finished seventh despite an impressive 10”7 in the 2nd last furlong.

The Prix Robert Papin (Gr2), for 2-years-old over the straight 6 furlongs, was won by Arabie, the winner of the Prix du Bois Longines (Gr3). The two races were held four weeks apart, with similar ground conditions: 3.4 in June and 3.3 in July. The winner, from North Yorkshire and ridden again by James Crowley, used similar tactics. In the Prix du Bois Longines, he was at the front from the start, then second or third, on the leader’s heels, until 2 out, where he took over to win with a 0.2-second margin, completing his last 3 furlongs in 35”7, 0.2 seconds slower than the second-placed Secret Wood.

Last Sunday, he started well again but did not stay close to the leaders, Celandine and Convo, who took two-tenths of a second from him. The race picked up speed at T3 (from 4 to 3 out), where the leaders went under 11 seconds. Seventh then, Shadow Army clocked 10”8 and 10”9 in Sections 3 and 4, moving up to fourth place 2 out, while Arabie overtook Celandine and Convo with 10”9 and 10”8 sections. Shadow Army continued to run slightly faster than Arabie but not enough to catch him, missing by a tenth of a second, just under a length.

In the 1m2.5f Prix de la Pépinière (L), the front-runner Sacaya held on with Théo Bachelot. They fended off the favourite Ardent, who made a long effort. Visually, the best impression was left by the strong finish of third-placed Elusive Princess, who came from the back. Her time was the fastest in the last section, but Caelestis’s time on the inside, from 2 to 1 out, was the best of the race at 10”8, between rivals and being unable to sprint straight.

The last Group race of the weekend, the Prix Messidor (Gr3), over a mile, was won by the brave Caramelito, who led and was overtaken 500 metres out by none other than the equally brave Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Ice Max, who came from the back like a flash. These efforts to take the lead likely cost them the victory, which Caramelito secured in the final furlong, completed in 11”2. Such comebacks are rare. Like in the Prix Chloé, the top six broke the 11-second barrier in the penultimate section of the race, but none went as fast as Caramelito, galvanized by the battle, in the final portion!

By Emmanuel Roussel: emmanuelroussel@hotmail.com