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This mid-August weekend is always great.
The track is looking good and there's good races both on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday we have two G2s for the girls. The first is the Prix du Calvados for the 2yo fillies over 1400m with a field of 7. J-C Rouget's Fraise des Bois is looking to maintain her unbeaten record at her fifth start. She's at 9/4. One of the major challengers will be Ollie Sangster's Simmering on 7/4 with McMonagle in the irons.
The other is the Prix de Pomone for the older girls (3+ f&m) and here Aventure should continue her aventures with a win here – she's 7/4 for Ferland-Pasquier. One worth having a look at is Angel Guidance on 8/1 from the Fable yard with Pouchin riding.
On Sunday there are four Group races starting with the G2 Prix Kergolay for the stayers over 3000m. We don't have any markets yet but expect Double Major to be near the top as there are only 5 runners. Double Major is by the Japanese sire Daiwa Major and he's another Ferland-Pasquier runner. Raider Alessio comes from Peter Schiergen's yard and will have Murzabayev on board. Double Major beat him at their recent meeting but that was on a soft track whereas the form at home on better going is solid.
The Prix Jean Romanet G1 is for 4y+ f&m over 2000m also only with 5 runners possibly because of the presence of Mqse de Sevigne, a Fabre-Pouchin runner who keeps on improving with every race. Left Sea could challenge – Laffon-Parias and Ryan Moore riding.
The Prix Morny G1 is for 2yos over 1200m but again this "no geldings" nonsense. 9 to run headed by our alter ego Whistlejacket with Ryan Moore as usual riding. Estepona looks to be promising – Delcher-Sanchez and Lecoeuvre riding, and Karl Burke's horses are doing very well and he has Shareholder entered here with James Doyle to ride.
The Prix Alec Head G2 is for 3yo fillies over 2000m with a field of 7. We have an Aussie angle here as Kitty Rose was purchased by Australian interests in June and is now being trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. She ran in the Sandringham at Ascot and then was 2nd in a Listed at Newmarket since her change of colours. Ryan Moore has the ride.
She is entered in the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate and will be coming to her new home in Australia after this race. However she is up against some stiff opposition in the Aga Khan's Candela and possibly also Birthe who blotted her copy book last outing and she may prefer softer ground.