The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for Saturday 5th October 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from ParisLongchamp & Newmarket

ParisLongchamp

Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Group 2) 12.23
Illinois
There’s sure to be plenty of support for Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois after his fine second in the St Leger last month. He was a runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris on this track on soft ground in July, and although 2 lengths behind Andre Fabre’s Sosie, that rival has been leading the ante-post markets for Sunday’s feature, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so this looks solid enough form for this Group 2. Ryan Moore is in the chair in place of Christophe Soumillon, and the biggest threat can come from Patrice Cottier’s Trafalgar Square, who steps up to this 15 furlong trip for the first time. Illinois to score from a perfect draw in Stall 1, with Trafalgar Square to give him a good run into the race from a positive ride at the front under Maxime Guyon, while Christophe Ferland’s Columbus can also make the frame.

Qatar Prix du Cadran (Group 1) 1.33
Kyprios/Double Major: Forecast
Once again, it’s very hard to ignore the appeal of Kyprios for the Prix du Cadran. Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer won this in 2022, carrying out a demolition job on the remainder of the field when 20 lengths clear through the line, and although he had an interrupted campaign last season, has returned even better this term, with a perfect five from five. This Galileo sired horse was odds-on favourite two years ago, and is even shorter this time around, so it may pay to side with an each-way chance, or even a forecast, with Kyprios and home hope Double Major. Alan King’s Trueshan, winner of this race in 2021 won’t mind this deep ground, so gets a mention, but Double Major is unexposed at this trip and runs well here. Expect Double Major to try and take it from the front, while Kyprios will save his run until the false straight here at Longchamp to regain the crown.

Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2) 3.25
Marhaba Ya Sanafi
A chance is taken on Andreas Schutz’s Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who should appreciate this drop back in trip to the mile. Returning to the track where he finished a three-and-a-half lengths sixth of eight in a hot renewal of the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan back in May, this looks a more realistic assignment, with Cristian Demuro returning to the saddle adding to the appeal. Last seen finishing at the back of the field in the Jacques le Marois, where Mickael Barzalona didn’t push him out, a big run is on the cards here. British raider Make Me King, and the fast finishing Ramadan are all drawn well, so these three make most appeal as super each-way angles.

Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 4.00
Caius Chorister
A wide open Group One, so the gamble is taken on David Menuisier’s Caius Chorister to finally provide his trainer with top honours. The British based French trainer has been waiting at the front door for a Group One this season to put into the form book, and this looks his best chance with Caius Chorister. He has form here in France on ground this deep, winning at Saint-Cloud last October, and his close second in the Chester Stakes last time out should have teed him up perfectly for this. It does look that this big prize is going out of France this year, with Henry de Bromhead’s Terms Of Endearment, and William Haggas’s Sea Theme both in the mix, but Caius Chorister gets the nudge.

Qatar Prix Dollar (Group 2) 4.35
Anmaat (nap)
This can go to Owen Burrows’s Anmaat, who won the Group One Prix d’Ispahan here in May, and looks to have been laid out for this. This lightly raced six year old is seven from eleven now, and goes for a course hat-trick after landing this race last year before the Prix d’Ispahan, and he can get on top of another British raider, William Haggas’s My Prospero, who has been prepped for this race with a nice win in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. Home hopes lie with Carlos and Yann Lerner’s hat-trick seeking Calif, who took the Prix la Coupe here in June, but Anmaat is hard to oppose.

Newmarket

Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 2.40
Inspiral (nb)
On what could be her final race, it will be my pleasure to see the brilliant Inspiral win the Sun Chariot. A winner of six Group Ones, she has been a super servant to Cheveley Park Stud under the masterful guidance of John Gosden, now in partnered training with son Thady, and although there have been some hiccups along the way, she is top class on her day, and not yet beaten in two runs on the Rowley Mile. David Menuisier’s Tamfana looks the obvious threat, with Colin Keane getting the leg-up for the first time, while the improving See The Fire has Oisin Murphy for company, so has to be noted. Inspiral to make it a winning end to a stellar career, with Rob Havlin a huge plus getting the ride.

The Mandarin