The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 12th May 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp & Leopardstown

ParisLongchamp

Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) (Fillies) 2.50
Romantic Style
Charlie Appleby has already tasted Guineas success with Notable Speech at Newmarket last weekend, and now tries for the French fillies version with Romantic Style. This Night Of Thunder filly had a nice workout at Deauville on her seasonal reappearance last month, getting upsides of the smart Ramatuelle, and can take the step up to a mile in her stride. The Fred Darling winner, Folgaria makes plenty of each-way appeal under Hollie Doyle, as does the fast finishing home hope, Tulipa Chope. Plenty of depth to this year’s renewal with Will McCreery’s Vespertilio also making the shortlist, but Romantic Style gets our vote

Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) (Colts) 3.30
Beauvatier (nb)
Aidan O’Brien will be hoping that the unbeaten Henry Longfellow can take the French 2,000 Guineas here, and make amends for City Of Troy’s miss last week at Newmarket. Although Henry Longfellow won all three starts last season, all of those were at The Curragh, so we are going to side with course winner Beauvatier, the outstanding French Juvenile colt last year. He should be ready to hit peak form after chasing home the re-opposing Ramadan here last month, and this pair have that race fitness advantage over Henry Longfellow. Beauvatier to keep this one on home soil in a cracking contest

St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Group 2) (Fillies) 4.05
Dare To Dream
Dare To Dream won here over 9 furlongs last month with a storming run from the rear of the field, hitting top gear from the 500 metre mark. A repeat of that from the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux puts her right in the mix for this, with the extra furlong likely to bring out even more in Gavin Hernon’s Camelot filly. Karl Burke’s British raider, Making Dreams can chase her home, but Dare To Dream is the one to follow

Prix de Saint-Georges (Group 3) 4.40
Go Athletico
A chance is taken on Ado McGuinness’s Go Athletico for this sharp sprint. A winner of the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes at The Curragh last September, he should strip fitter for his recent third in the Woodlands Stakes at Naas behind the useful Moss Tucker and Ocean Quest. Ground to suit so every chance

Leopardstown

Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) 2.25
One Look
Paddy Twomey can take the first of the Pattern races on Leopardstown’s Sunday card with One Look. This Gleneagles filly won under a hands and heels ride at Cork on her seasonal reappearance, and that should have teed her up nicely for this Group 3 contest. One Look has a full diary of big dates, all at Group 1 level, so this looks a good entry point for a huge campaign. Exciting

Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes (Group 3) 3.00
Yosemite Valley (nap)
This looks a good duel between Ger Lyons’s Power Under Me and Donnacha O’Brien’s Yosemite Valley. Our preference is for Yosemite Valley, who went through the line with plenty to spare at Cork three weeks ago in the Listed Gladness Stakes, so this extra furlong looks well within range. That said, Power Under Me is a smart rival and was just a half-length runner-up to Goldana here over course and distance last month, so brings strong form into this Group 3. Yosemite Valley can use this race as a prep for the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh later this month, before heading to a Group 1 engagement at Royal Ascot, so gets the nudge

Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) 3.35
Los Angeles
It’s very hard to oppose the appeal of Los Angeles for this Derby Trial. Last seen taking the Criterium de Saint-Cloud relegating stablemate and favourite Illinois to third spot, Los Angeles looked a smart prospect and winning this this should be a formality before an appearance in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby. Has to be taken on trust that Los Angeles is good to go on his first run since the Criterium, but Aidan O’Brien has hit a patch of form just at the right time

The Mandarin