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The Group 1 Prix du Cadran (1:33), run over 2m4f, is the ultimate staying contest and has been won by some of the best long-distance horses in Europe.
Trueshan will be attempting to record a second victory in the marathon event and arguably faces an easier task than his titanic battle against Stradivarius in 2021. The Alan King-trained seven-year-old made a triumphant return to form with a victory ahead of Coltrane in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last time and will probably not even need to be at his best to win this.
Aidan O'Brien's Emily Dickinson will benefit from a sex allowance and has been given the Cadran target in preference to her former entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The four-year-old has demonstrated a preference for softer ground, having won the 1m6f Group 2 Curragh Cup in late July. Although the ground may prove too quick for the daughter of Dubawi, her staying credentials are solid and she finished best of the rest when second in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup when last seen.
Of the remaining four runners, it is worth noting that connections paid 21,600 euros to supplement Listed Prix Moskowa winner Skazino on Wednesday morning, despite the seven-year-old pulling up in the race twelve months ago. A full brother to Group 1 winner Skalleti, the Patrice Cottier-trained gelding would need to improve on his recent fifth in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur. Both the third and fourth placed horses from the Gladiateur, Vert Liberte and Moon Wolf, also re-oppose.
WIN: TRUESHAN
The fillies and mares get their opportunity to take on a stamina test in the 1m6f Group 1 Prix de Royallieu (3:33) and the entries include contenders from both sides of the Channel.
The French-trained Melo Melo is a surprise entry for the contest, after connections indicated a preference for British Champions Day at Ascot, where the four-year-old was more likely to get her ideal softer conditions. She comes into this race following an excellent second behind Warm Heart in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille over twelve furlongs at this track but the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained filly did win over 1m6f earlier in the season.
Dermot Weld's Shamida is likely to be well-fancied and the three-year-old filly will be aiming for a fourth straight success. Winner of a twelve furlong maiden at Leopardstown in May, the daughter of Australia relished the step up to 1m6f when winning the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes and the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes. The form of the Irish St Leger Trial win has been given a suitable boost with Dawn Rising placing in the Irish Cesarewitch and Shamida will benefit from a hefty six pound weight allowance from the older mares.
Sumo Sam is another three-year-old filly who has gone from strength to strength since stepping up in distance. She was ridden to perfection by Tom Marquand in attritional conditions at Goodwood to win the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes but proved the result was not a fluke when applying the same front-running tactics in the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes. The daughter of Nathanial is probably a best on a softer surface, although it may be foolish to dismiss her entirely if allowed to dictate the pace from the front.
Trained by Andre Fabre, Ottery appears one of the best French hopes in the contest. The Juddmonte-owned filly will be trying 1m6f for the first time and has achieved some solid results this season, including a win in the Group 3 Prix Royaumont at Chantilly. She returned after a two month break to finish third in the Group 2 Prix de Pomone behind Melo Melo on heavy ground and the daughter of Dubawi is probably seen to better effect on a quicker surface.
WIN: SHAMIDA
