Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 11th May 2025

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp & Leopardstown

ParisLongchamp

Prix de Saint-Georges (Group 3) 12.58
Electric Storm
Maybe this sprint will be going to James Tate’s Electric Storm. She was very good in the Lansdown Stakes at Bath in her last run, stretching away from Frost At Dawn in the last half-furlong, and with the form in the book on soft ground, I think she will cope with conditions here. Of course she was second to Pradaro on this track the last September, but Pradaro has been in very bad form on his two runs this season, so it will be Francis-Henri Graffard’s Keran who will be the danger to Electric Storm. Keran was second to Toyotomi in the Listed Stakes at Deauville, with the ground like this, so should be there again, but I prefer Electric Storm for the win.

Auguste Rodin Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Group 2) (Fillies) 1.33
Audubon Park
This Fillies Group 3 only has four, but it is a very good four who all have a chance. I think that it will be Flaming Stone and Audubon Park who will be in a fight to win this, and maybe it is Audubon Park that has the better chance. She has won both her starts, and very much last time at Saint-Cloud she impressed to stretch away from the field under Christophe Soumillon, so I think there is more to come from her. Flaming Stone could not keep the pace of Mandanaba here last time, but that is still very good form, so Flaming Stone can be second in this.

Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) (Colts) 3.25
Camille Pissarro
The Poule d’Essai des Poulains doesn’t look like it is going to stay in France, with English and Irish colts all at the top of the betting. Aidan O’Brien has two, Henri Matisse and Camille Pissarro, and although Henri Matisse is ahead in the betting, Camille Pissarro won the Jean-Luc Lagardere here in October, so under Christophe Soumillon again cannot be discounted. I know that Jaysella has a feeling for Hotazhell for this, so he also comes onto the list, while Andrew Balding’s Jonquil also has a chance judged by the win at Newbury last month. I will take a chance though, with Camille Pissarro, who has a wide draw, but Christophe Soumillon won on her before, and can do so again.

Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) (Fillies) 4.05
Zaragana (nb)
Zaragana it is for me for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, with her stablemate Mandanaba going to make it a one-two for Francis-Henri Graffard. Again, there’s some Irish involvement with Aidan O’Brien sending four to contest for this lucrative prize, but Heavens Gate and Merrily just have the outside chance at best, so the Ballydoyle stable’s main pair are Bedtime Story and Exactly, who is the choice of Ryan Moore. Bedtime Story looked special last year when routing the field in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, but her season faltered a little when she was only fifth in the Prix Marcel-Boussac here in October, with Exactly finishing ahead in third. That was Zaragana’s only defeat when second to Vertical Blue in that Group One, but I think she’ll be winning this with Mandanaba getting the closest.

Leopardstown

Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 2.20
Vespertilio (nap)
This Group 2 can go to Vespertilio, who won the Debutante Stakes in this grade last year as a two year old. She should have the benefit of the run at Cork last month to see her at her best, while Gavin Cromwell’s Fiery Lucy does not have that advantage, so Ger Lyon’s Chantez could be one to make a race of it with Vespertilio. Dermot Weld’s Bella Isabella beat an odds-on Sapphire Princess in April, so she is also included, but Vespertilio is the one for me.

Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes (Listed) 2.55
Diego Velazquez
Diego Velazquez is three from three at Leopardstown, and is very hard to oppose despite the lack of a recent run. This is of course just a Listed contest, though there is some quality to this field with Mutasarref and Lord Massusus all in the line-up. Both of these have the benefit of a run this season, so Diego Velazquez will have to be primed for this, but he is the classiest of these and can win.

Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) 3.30
Delacroix
Delacroix looked something special last year when a close runner-up in the Futurity Stakes to Hotazhell, who runs in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp later on, and he can win this. There are no chances being taken on the Tote, where he’s a long odds-on price to make this four wins from his seven races, and it is very hard to see anything that lines up here capable of beating him. Joseph O’Brien’s Tennessee Stud progressed well last year, second to Hotazhell in the important Beresford Stakes, so he looks the main rival, but hasn’t run since September, which concerns me for the win. Delacroix to do just what we expect, and dominate this before a crack at one of the Derby’s and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.