Marie-Franscoise’s Sunday Selections for 20th July 2025

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday selections from Chantilly & The Curragh

Chantilly

Darley Prix Chloe (Group 3) (Fillies) 2.50
Relaxx
I think that this Prix Chloe can go to Carlos & Yann Lerner’s Relaxx, who will like this ground non, and I prefer her to Ralph Beckett’s Cathedral. She won the last race here over a mile going away, so this step up in the trip will be fine for Relaxx, and she can make this her third win here. Ralph Beckett’s Cathedral was very, very good in the Coronation Stakes, the Group One Fillies mile at Royal Ascot, but this ground is going to be very different for her, and I do not see so much in the form to tell me she will like this. Christopher Head’s Rosa Salvaje will also find this much easier than the Prix de Diane when we saw her last, and she also has a chance. Oui, it is Relaxx that I think will win this, and maybe Cathedral can beat Rosa Salvaje if she can run on this ground.

Prix de la Pepiniere (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Quisisana (nap)
Maybe Francis-Henri Graffard’s Quisisana can win the Prix de la Pepiniere, and I think ahead of Andreas Schutz’s Zabeel Light and Ralph Beckett’s Doha. Quisisana did win here over 2,400 metres in June 2024, beating the good filly Ottery by 6 and a half lengths, but she is at her best trip here of just over 2,000 metres. Ralph Beckett’s Doha has not been as good as when winning the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, so it could be Yann Barberot’s Zuna who is also in for a chance. Oui, it is hard to go against Quisisana, N’est-ce pas?

Goffs Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) 4.00
Moojeed (nb)
Francis-Henri Graffard will be winning this for me with Moojeed, who is looking better on every run. This Dark Angel colt won here in the Group 3 Prix de Bois Longines, making the better of Karl Burke’s hot favourite, Ali Shuffle, so with the conditions all the same, Moojeed can win again. Imperial Me Cen was within a length of Moojeed in that race, so again will be competitive, while the interesting one is Archie Watson’s Tadej, who has many dates in his diary but does not know this soft ground. Moojeed to carry on getting better by winning this.

Prix Messidor (Group 3) 4.35
Quddwah
Quddwah led for very long way in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, though was no match for the course specialist Docklands and the brilliant Rosallion. D’accord, that Group One was a hard race to win, but he was coming out of that with plenty of credit, so this Group 3 is a much lesser plate for this Kingman colt, with the soft ground not asking as much. But, Quddwah must be careful of Andre Fabre’s Alcantor, who has a very good rate of winning, but has not been seen since the bet365 Mile at Sandown, though this ground now is ideal for him. Marhaba Ya Sanafi can also win in this grade, so these are my three, with Quddwah getting my pick, ahead of Alcantor.

The Curragh

Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 2.30
One Look
I’m thinking that One Look can take the Meadow Court Stakes for Paddy Twomey. I think that a line can be drawn through that run in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes the last day, on account of that fast ground, and he can get back to winning ways here, chiefly at the expense of the much fancied Tasmania, now running out of Sir Mark Prescott’s yard. That said, Tasmania won’t mind this ground either, but One Look’s form includes a half-length second to the smart Porta Fortuna in the Lanwades Stud Stakes back in May, and to me that’s a pretty standout piece of form. The Siyouni filly, Dermot Weld’s Azada can be prominent, while Henry de Bromhead’s Higher Leaves will go well if there’s more rain about, but One Look gets my vote.

Romanised Minstrel Stakes (Group 2) 3.40
Diego Velazquez
The ground was patently not ideal when Diego Velazquez was sent off in the Queen Anne Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot, but this drop back in trip could be just what’s needed. It’s quite possible he needed that first run of his campaign too, so I’ll for one give him another chance ahead of Johnny Murtagh’s Chicago Critic and Will McCreery’s Vespertilio, with Ger Lyons’ Mutasarref also sneaking onto the bottom of my shortlist. Diego Velazquez to get his campaign back on track with the drop in trip a plus, while Vespertilio keeps him honest.