RACING:CIRRUS DES Aigles and So You Think, who fought out the finish to the Qipco Champion Stakes in October, are among 10 horses remaining in the Prix Ganay — Prix Air Mauritius at Longchamp on Sunday.
The French raider, trained by Corine Barande-Barbe, came out on top by three-quarters of a length from Aidan O’Brien’s charge at Ascot and is fresh from success in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan last month.
As well as the former Australian-trained star, O’Brien has left in Windsor Palace and Robin Hood at the latest acceptance stage for the Group One race over an extended mile and a quarter.
The Mikel Dezangles-trained Dunaden, winner of the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase has also stood his ground.
Alain de Royer-Dupre has both last year’s Prix du Jockey Club winner Reliable Man and Prix d’Harcourt scorer Giofra, while Michael Bell’s globe-trotter Wigmore Hall, Saga Dream and Pagera make up the list.
Leading Qipco 2,000 Guineas contender Top Offer remains on course for the season’s opening Classic after pleasing trainer Roger Charlton in a workout.
The Dansili colt was hugely impressive on his sole juvenile start in a Newbury maiden and he will head to Newmarket with just that run under his belt after soft ground prevented him running in last weekend’s Greenham Stakes.
Charlton elected to conduct the rest of the three-year-old’s preparations at home and with the strong work now done, the Beckhampton handler is just hoping to keep his charge in one piece for the next 10 days.
“All the hard work is done for him now. It’s just a case of keeping him ticking over between now and Saturday week — we’re freewheeling from here on in,” said Charlton.
Ante-post favourite Camelot, emphatic winner of the Racing Post Trophy, is one of three possibles from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable with National Stakes winner Power and Furner’s Green. Jim Bolger has two remaining entries headed by Dewhurst Stakes winner Parish Hall and Ballysax Stakes scorer Light Heavy. Born To Sea, three-parts brother to 20009 winner Sea The Stars, has been left in by Currabeg handler John Oxx.
Meanwhile, O’Brien’s Thomasgainsborough finished fourth behind Andrew Balding’s gelding Goldoni in yesterday’s Epsom’s Investec Derby Trial.
Investec will continue to back the Derby Festival until 2021 after agreeing a 10-year extension to their current deal with Epsom. The firm began their sponsorship in 2009 and they still have a year to run on their existing contract.
