Jaysella & Marie-Francoise’ Sunday Selections for 7th September 2025
Jaysella & Marie-Francoise’ Sunday Selections from Sha Tin, York & ParisLongchamp
Sha Tin
HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (Handicap) 07.00
Ka Ying Rising
The return of the brilliant Ka Ying Rising to action at Sha Tin is something worth getting up for on Sunday morning. He’s risen, risen & risen over the last two seasons to be the top sprinter in the world, and according to his trainer, David Hayes, there’s likely even more to come. Can’t wait for this. Now, he has to give oodles of weight to the rest of the field, and it could be that Beauty Waves has come on for the move over to Tony Cruz, since he’s two from two since the switch in June, but Zac Purton was on him last time out at Happy Valley, so will know what he has to beat aboard Ka Ying Rising. Not much bang for your buck I’m afraid, but Ka Ying Rising is the best there is anywhere. Exciting!
York
Sky Bet Starman Garrowby Stakes (Listed) 4.30
Lethal Levi
Up at York, Almeraq has been backed into clear favourite to take the Garrowby. I don’t think that William Haggas’s Dark Angel colt is going to have to improve much from his last run at Ayr in the Gold Cup Trial where he impressed, but I’m going against the jolly and sticking with Lethal Levi, who’s been there and done it so many times before. He held Almeraq’s stablemate, Elmonjed in this grade at Newmarket just over two weeks back to show he’s still in fine form, and he’s got plenty of races in him to come. Almeraq has been knocked up for that big success at Ayr, so has to prove he’s up to this mark, but Lethal Levi, who’s finished either winner or second in eighteen of his forty starts is hard to oppose.
ParisLongchamp
Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) 1.33
Sosie (nap)
Oui, it is a very, very exciting day of racing here at ParisLongchamp on Arc Trials Day. And, I think that it will be Andre Fabre’s Sosie that can win the Prix Foy, though this is the race most deep with Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles a proven Group One winner, Ed Walker’s Almaqam, who was just second by a head in the Prix Dollar at last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting, and this season’s unbeaten improver, Arrow Eagle. But, on this Longchamp track, Sosie is five wins from six starts, though I must remember that Los Angeles was third in the Arc last year. It is perhaps a shame that Ryan Moore is sidelined with the leg not so good, but Christophe Soumillon is the best replacement to have, and this is a very good move by Aidan O’Brien to have him for Ballydoyle. Sosie needed all of the nine furlongs to catch Sardinian Warrior in the Prix d’Ispahan in May, only reaching the raider from Angleterre in the last 100 metres, so this trip should be best for him, and he will win.
Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Group 1) 2.50
Henri Matisse (nb)
I cannot see any other result that Henri Matisse for the Prix du Moulin, and the situation that Christophe Soumillon is on him only adds to my conviction. Oui, I have the most respect for Rosallion, Dancing Gemini and Lead Artist, the raiders from Angleterre who make up a strong attack, but it was Henri Matisse that won the Classic here in May, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in the most brilliant style, with Ryan Moore catching up 5 lengths in the last 400 metres. Now Henri Matisse can beat them all, getting weight from the four year olds, and make himself the best colt over a mile in Europe.
Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Aventure
This is a very very good race, the Prix Vermeille, but I think that Aventure will be winning this to make it one better the place that he had last year. Of course, it was Bluestocking who won the Prix Vermeille then, before going on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so this is recognised also with the Prix Niel as the important trials for the big race, and now there is one extra week between this meeting and the one in October. Oui, I think that this has been a very good change in the schedule by France Galop, and especially the addition of the Prix du Moulin to make it the best meeting before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. It has to be Aidan O’Brien’s Whirl that is the big favourite for this, especially with Christophe Soumillon on the top, and having an advantage in the weights, but Aventure was only beaten by Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and I think she will win this on her home soil. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Gezora is improving for the trainer that is doing so well in Group races this season, but I will stay with Aventure for this Prix Vermeille.
Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2) 4.00
Cualificar
There is much to like about the Grand Prix de Paris winner Leffard, but I think I will take a little chance on Andre Fabre’s Cualificar. It may be that this bigger trip will help him to improve, and with William Buick given the ride, after he made him just the half-length second in the Prix du Jockey Club, I think this sends out a good signal. Cualificar was closing down the brilliant Camille Pissarro in that 10 furlong race, so maybe he can step forward again. Oui, it is between Leffard and Cualificar, and I will take my chance with William Buick and Cualificar.
