The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 14th July 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Chantilly

Fosse la Coque Maiden Stakes 12.58
Green Cape
It should pay to side with the well bred Green Cape on his debut under rules. This Lope De Vega colt should be teed up for this, coming out of Andre Fabre’s powerhouse yard, and Mickael Barzalona in the saddle adds to the appeal. Named after the famous Baroque Castle, Neuschwanstein is also an interesting debutante, sired by Romanised, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner in 2018 who was also a Group 1 scorer here in France. These are the two that stand out on pedigree, with a marginal preference for Green Cape

Darley Prix Chloe (Group 3) (Fillies) 2.55
Skellet (nap)
British raider Skellet drops into Group 3 company here having been tried at the very highest level in her last couple of outings. She ran very well for a long way in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, leading until the 2 furlong pole, and before that was eighth of thirteen in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her first run of this season. The extra furlong here should put less emphasis on the pace angle, and these are far calmer waters, so a big run is on the cards. L’equilibriste and Luiza Bere both make the shortlist, having fought out a Listed contest at ParisLongchamp over this trip back in May, but the former came up short went sent into the Group 1 Prix de Diane, so drops down in grade. Ralph Beckett’s Skellet to finally deliver on all her promise and land her first blow this term

Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) 3.30
Arabie (nb)
A race dominated by raiders from across the Channel, with six making the trip over, and the only other entrant is an Italian filly. The selection is Arabie, who won over this course and distance last month (given here) for Karl Burke, who has done so well with his sprinters this season, including Group 1 success with Fallen Angel in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Richard Fahey sends two over, Shadow Army and Moving Force, but it is Ed Walker’s Celandine that will give Arabie most to think about, with this pair both seeking the hat-trick. More of the same from Arabie to take Group 2 honours

De la Pepiniere (Listed) 4.05
Elusive Princess
This race looks to be all about Elusive Princess, who takes a marked drop in grade to this Listed contest. She’s been globetrotting this year, with a win at Saratoga, and a brace of races at Keeneland sandwiching a Grade 2 at Tampa Bay Downs. Back on French soil now, and considering she was fifth in the Group 1 Prix de Diane here last year, this should be a formality. Andre Fabre’s Ardent rates the main threat, having finished a solid fourth in the Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud last time out, and is more than capable at this level. Elusive Princess to score now back on familiar ground, with Ardent to make her honest

Prix Messidor (Group 3) 4.40
Marhaba Ya Sanafi
Andreas Schultz’s colt can be classy on his day, but had to pull out all the stops to beat the re-opposing Andromede here last month. This time Francis-Henri Graffard’s Andromede is 2lbs better off than in that Group 3, so is entitled to get closer and make a race of it. Throw in British raider Brave Emperor, and the hat-trick seeking Caramelito, and it’s a Group 3 with some depth to it. Marhaba Ya Sanafi to continue the winning thread, with Andromede and Caramelito to make him work for it

The Mandarin