Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 1st June 2025

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections from Chantilly

Prix RMC – Prix la Fleche (Listed) 1.05
Super Soldier
I think that this Listed race can be going to Karl Burke with Super Soldier. The trainer from the yard of Spigot Lodge does well with his sprinters here in France, and runs Arabie later today in the same silks in the Prix Marchand d’Or, so Clifford Lee can be having a very good day. Andre Fabre’s Focus won a maiden here very nicely, but it was Super Soldier’s second at Ascot that looks the better piece of form for me. Super Soldier to win for Karl Burke, and Focus to come the closest.

Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 3) 1.40
Kind Of Blue
The very exciting Kind Of Blue will be expected to win this for James Fanshawe. This Blue Point colt is very, very speedy, and with the Group One British Champions Sprint Stakes under the belt already, this is the most important piece of form in this race. It is also just a warm-up for the bigger dates at Royal Ascot, and for the July Cup Stakes at Newmarket, but he can win first time out for the season, and I cannot back against him. Coto De Caza for Simon & Ed Crisford is the best one to make it a race, but Kind Of Blue is my selection.

Prix de Sandringham (Group 2) (Fillies) 2.20
Vadinska (nap)
Francis-Henri Graffard’s Vadinska has had just the one start, but a very good start it was. She won by 10 lengths in that 1 mile race at Saint-Cloud, and I am very interested to see her run again, now she goes straight into a Group 2. The raider from Britain is Eve Johnson-Houghton’s Betty Clover, who did run very well at Goodwood, but was just pipped on the line by the favourite, Crimson Advocate. She also has a chance, but I think that Vadinska looks very exciting and I am looking forward to the Kodiac filly again.

Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) (Colts & Fillies) 3.05
Camille Pissarro (nb)
Camille Pissarro has been the one with lots of money on his chance for this Group One this week, and I think that is justified. When he was finishing quite the fastest in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, he did look like he could have won going further, and that was the opinion of Christophe Soumillon, who was his jockey that day. So here he is, and Ryan Moore takes up on the reins with a nice draw in Stall 1, and I would expect a big run from the Ballydoyle colt. William Buick gets the Godolphin ride on Cualificar, who won the Prix de Guiche here to make it three from the three this season, and John & Thady Gosden send over Juddmonte’s Detain, who was sixth in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. I also like Ridari and Luther, with Al Aali as my big each way chance, but Camille Pissarro can win.

Prix Marchand d’Or (Listed) 3.50
Arabie
Karl Burke is the one with the big chance for the Prix Marchand d’Or with Arabie, who has won on both the starts here last year. He was last running in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot, and although fifth, he was just two and a half lengths short of Big Mojo, the winner. I think that he can win this back on the track here at Chantilly where he is the one with the unbeaten record, and this softer ground should help. Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Soldier’s Heart can be the closest if ready to race for the first time this year, while Estepona is the best of the home horses, but Arabie it is, for me.

Prix de Royaumont (Group 3) (Fillies) 5.00
Sunly
This is quite an open race but I’m going to follow the Juddmonte silks of Sunly. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Night Of Thunder filly has won the two starts this year, lastly in the Prix de la Seine at ParisLongchamp, which was a Listed contest, so this is a natural progression to a Group 3. I think that Rabbit’s Foot, who also has won her two races, has not yet seen the ceiling of her ability, and along with the consistent Ginalyah can make the places, while Andrew Balding’s Secret Of Love is perhaps the biggest danger after a fine second in the Chester Oaks, and now has Oisin Murphy aboard. Sunly and Secret Of Love to fight this one out, with Sunly getting my pick.

Grand Prix de Chantilly In Tribute To His Highness The Aga Khan IV (Group 2) 5.35
Junko
It is interesting that all these four were in the same race, the Prix d’Hedouville at ParisLongchamp four weeks ago. Arrow Eagle was the winner then, but Junko had not run since winning this corresponding race last year, so must be expected to improve from there. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sibayan was just one length down from Arrow Eagle, and these should be one-two three again, with Junko scoring the prize.