The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 15th September 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp & The Curragh

ParisLongchamp

Qatar Prix du Pin (Group 3) 12.23
Exxtra
The opener on ParisLongchamp’s Sunday card can go to Carlos & Yann Lerners’ Exxtra. Her fine second to the unbeaten Lazzat in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest last month is the standout piece of form going into this Group 3. Archie Watson has his sprinters in fine fettle, so Shartash has to be considered, along with fellow British raider, Ten Bob Tony. Exxtra to prove too good eased into this grade, with Shartash the danger.

Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) 1.33
Iresine
Just the five runners for the Prix Foy, but a fascinating race all the same. The ante-post markets have had Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous a racing certainty for this Group 2, but it may not be as clear cut as that with French hopes Feed The Flame and Iresine lining up. Our preference is for Iresine, runner-up in this last year behind Place Du Carrousel, but he’s got every chance of going one better this time around. Although he was behind Feed The Flame in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the Group 1 won by William Haggas’s Dubai Honour, these ground conditions are just what Iresine wants. Plenty of stamina for JP Gauvin’s star, with the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak in the form book from 2022 on heavy ground, so Iresine to cause the upset.

Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 2.57
Opera Singer
The chance is taken that Aidan O’Brien’s Irish raider will get this trip on this very soft ground, and get the better of Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking. She’s certainly not been over raced this season, with a setback giving her a late start to her campaign, making her seasonal reappearance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in June, finishing a creditable third in that Classic. Opera Singer has had a short break after her win in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, and by American Triple Crown winner, Justify, plenty in the breeding to suggest she’ll get this trip. Home Hopes lie with Sparkling Plenty, winner of the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, and the unexposed Aventure, but Opera Singer gets the vote.

Qatar Prix Neil (Group 2) 3.40
Look De Vega (nap)
It’s hard to ignore the appeal of French Derby winner Look De Vega for this Group 2 contest. Unbeaten after just the three starts, Carlos & Yann Lerners’ Lope De Vega colt could not have been more impressive than when bursting onto the Group One scene after just two other races under rules. With form on heavy ground on this track, when beating the useful Hamavi back in May, we could be seeing a future Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner in the making, if he can see out this trip. Danger comes in the form of Ambiente Friendly, second only to City Of Troy in The Derby at Epsom, but Look De Vega can win this to make it four from four.

Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Group 3) 4.15
Aesop’s Fables
There’s plenty of raiders crossing the Channel for this Group 3, but this one’s going to Ireland. Aesop’s Fables has been highly tried in the sprint division, with fifteen starts to his name, but just three visits to the winner’s enclosure. This season this No Nay Never colt has been dropped back to the bare minimum trip, and that seemed to work when scoring at Naas in May. Not seen since then, so taken on trust that he’s good to go, and and if not, Richard Hughes’s progressive filly, No Half Measures will be ready to capitalise. Tom Clover’s Rogue Lightning completes the shortlist, but Aesop’s Fables can win if taking to his very soft ground.

The Curragh

Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 2.25
Purple Lily
Paddy Twomey can take the first of the Pattern races on the second day of Irish Champions weekend. Her third in the Irish Oaks, behind the smart pair of You Got To Me and Content, is the best form on offer going into this, and the drop back to 10 furlongs is taken to suit. Joseph O’Brien’s American Sonja is classy on her day, so rates the obvious threat, while stablemate Rogue Millennium is no second string, and has William Buick booked for the trip. Purple Lily to continue to progress for her excellent trainer.

Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) 3.00
Bedtime Story
The only surprising fact about Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly is that she could be taken at evens in the ante post markets this week. Unbeaten in four starts, having gotten upsides of stablemate Exactly in his last two runs, the manner of his win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot is still fresh in the memory. He has progressed seamlessly from that Listed contest to score at Group 3 and Group 2 level, and now goes for Group 1 honours in just his fifth start. Red Letter is another Frankel filly that looks one out of the top drawer too, so Ger Lyons and Colin Keane will team up to take on the jolly, but Bedtime Story is in the “could be anything” category, so gets the nudge.

Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) 3.35
Bradsell
Archie Watson’s colt has returned an even better model this season, and now looks to make it three from three. This Tasleet colt warmed up for a late summer campaign with a win in a Listed race at Deauville, before taking the Nunthorpe at York and now goes for a second Group 1. Believing was just a three-quarter length behind Bradsell in the Nunthorpe, so these two lock horns again, and as Believing has already won here this term, it’s easy enough to make a case for him, especially from Stall 1. Last year’s winner, Moss Tucker and Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte complete the list of contenders, but Bradsell can score at the top table again.

Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1) 4.10
Henri Matisse
It’s starting to look like a day of ante-post favourites going in, as Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse lines up for the National Stakes. However, this is one of the hottest Juvenile sprints in the European Racing Calendar, along with the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park, so Henri Matisse will have to be at his very best to keep the unbeaten record. Charlie Appleby’s Aomori City, Joseph O’Brien’s Cowardofthecounty and Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven all have claims, but Henri Matisse can prevail.

Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1) 4.45
Kyprios (nb)
A real cracker in store for the Irish St Leger. The brilliant Kyprios is unbeaten in four starts this term, winning both Group One assignments, the Gold Cup at Ascot’s Royal meeting, and the Goodwood Cup last time out. This is a sharper trip though, and that brings Marco Botti’s Giavellotto into the equation. Willie Mullins’s Vauban also makes appeal, but does have a few lengths to find on Giavellotto from their clash in the Yorkshire Cup, so Kyprios only looks to have one rival to keep tabs on. Kyprios to make it a perfect five from five, and confirm his position as number one in the stayers division.

The Mandarin