The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 30th September 2023

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from ParisLongchamp & Newmarket

ParisLongchamp

Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Group 2) 12.23
Harbour Wind
The first of the pattern races on Longchamp’s big meeting can go to Irish raider, Harbour Wind. A ready winner in a Listed contest at Leopardstown back in August, he looks ready to step up to this level, with the excellent Chris Hayes making the trip over to keep the partnership together. The step up in trip to 14 furlongs last time out gave notice of his staying potential, and with winning form on soft, lots to like with the prolific Gallerist the best of the home team

Qatar Prix du Cadran (Group 1) 1.33
Trueshan (nap)
Back to winning ways at Doncaster two weeks ago, Alan King’s smart stayer showed he retained all of the ability after a break. He won this race on soft going in 2021, serving it up to the great Stradivarius in determined style, so with ground conditions to suit and Hollie Doyle back in the saddle, Trueshan makes a worthy favourite. Frankie Dettori gets a leg-up on Emily Dickinson, the winner of the Curragh Cup, but whether her stamina will see her through over this trip on this ground asks a question. Skazino is the best of the home team and these are the three to battle for Group 1 honours

Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group 1) (Fillies& Mares) 3.33
Melo Melo
The smooth-travelling Melo Melo only found Aidan O’Brien’s smart Warm Heart too good in the Group 1 Prix Vermaille here earlier this month, just missing out by a short-head. With that rival not lining up for this Fillies Group One, Irish St Leger Trial winner, Shamida, rates the main threat to Francis-Henri Graffard’s Gleneagles filly. Ottery too should be in the mix, along with William Haggas’s Sea Silk Road, but Melo Melo is the class act of this line-up and should score here

Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2) 4.08
Poker Face
More Black Type can go to the raiding party, this time Simon & Ed Crisford’s Poker Face. This Fastnet Rock gelding always seems to find a little bit extra, and has probably not finished improving yet, with his latest win in the Group 3 Prix Quincey at Deauville on soft ground looking solid form to take into this Group 2. Brian Meehan’s Isaac Shelby is another going the right way, so the silverware looks sure to head back across The Channel, but Poker Face gets the tick over his younger rival

Qatar Prix Dollar (Group 2) 4.43
Horizon Dore (nb)
The last of the Pattern races should stay on home soil as Patrice Cottier’s progressive gelding lines up as a warm order favourite for this Group 2. Given here for his last win in the Group 3 Prix Prince d’Orange four weekends back, he had plenty in the tank when cruising 2 lengths clear over this trip. He’s won three on the trot, two of them here, and is very hard to oppose in a bid for the four-timer

Newmarket

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) 1.50
Capulet
A terrific renewal to get Saturday’s card under way at Newmarket, where Aidan O’Brien will be hoping for a win with Capulet. Only finding his exciting stablemate, Diego Valezquez too good in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown three weeks ago, he can go one better here. Bred in the purple, being sired by Justify and out of Wedding Vow, he is sure to have a big campaign next year. Ryan Moore gets the leg-up, so Capulet looks the one to beat

Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) 2.25
Porta Fortuna
In a top-class Group 1 renewal of this important Juvenile race, the chance is taken on Porta Fortuna from Donnacha O Brien’s Tipperary base. She won her first three starts, including the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, before finishing runner-up to Bucanero Fuerte in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh. Back at that track and stepped up to 7 furlongs, she was no match for Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel, but this drop back to 6 should suit. William Haggas’s Relief Rally is the obvious danger having only had one horse in front of her in five starts this term, but Porta Fortuna gets the nudge

Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts) 3.00
Vandeek
it’s very hard to get away from the appeal of Simon & Ed Crisford’s Vandeek for the Middle Park. He just got the better of our selection, Ramatuelle in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month, showing plenty of toe to reel in the home hope in the final strides. That gutsy display, where he had to wait an age for an opening was impressive enough to get the tick for this hot renewal. James Doyle takes over the reins in search of the four-timer. Exciting

bet365 Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap) 3.40
Greek Order
The Cambridgeshire is as ultra-competitive as ever, but the hat-trick seeking Greek Order looks a solid enough ante-post favourite for Harry and Roger Charlton. This Kingman colt made a great impression when sent out in a Class 3 handicap at Newbury over 10 furlongs, forging clear in the final furlong to score by over 4 lengths under Oisin Murphy. Recent winners Astro King and Dual Identity make the shortlist too, with Greek Order’s stablemate, Merlin The Wizard a tempting price as the each way angle

The Mandarin