The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 20th October 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp & Leopardstown

ParisLongchamp

Prix du Conseil de Paris (Group 2) 1.33
Zarakem
A decent race in prospect where there’s been plenty of money going on Goliath this week. However, Francis-Henri Graffard’s German bred gelding hasn’t been seen since bolting up in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot’s Royal meeting, so a chance is taken on the race-fit Zarakem, who was a fine 7 lengths sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago. Jerome Reynier’s Zarak colt gets a useful 4lb pull from Goliath, and that could prove telling in this heavy going. Zarakem already has Group 2 winning form around here this season from the Prix d’Harcourt, and if fully recovered from the Arc, should be right in the mix here. British raider Hamish will relish the conditions, so completes the shortlist, but Zarakem to score.

Prix Casimir Delamarre – Fonds European de l’Elevage (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 2.50
Tareefa (nap)
This Listed contest can go to William Haggas’s Tareefa, who returned from a break to go second at Ascot earlier this month. With no concerns over the ground, this Night Of Thunder filly can take the step up to a Black Type race in her stride, chiefly at the expense of Karl Burke’s Molten Rock, who at least has some course experience on her side, having finished fourth in the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux back here in April. Ed Walker’s Rose Prick is another with French racing in the form book in a race dominated by raiders from across the Channel, but might find this going too deep. Tareefa to go in for William Haggas.

Prix de Saint-Cur (Listed) (Fillies) 3.25
Fair Point (nb)
This is one more Black Type contest that can head back across the Channel, when Fair Point takes the Prix de Saint-Cyr for Ralph Beckett. This Farhh filly has been a model of consistency this season, never out of the first three in six starts, and won’t be complaining about the cut in the ground at Longchamp. Just a neck second to favourite Sirona from David Menuisier’s in-form yard at Newmarket last month, in a Fillies & Mares Listed race showed she’s got potential at this level, and once again, it’s the raiding party that fields the strongest opposition, with Andrew Balding’s Run Away and Hugo Palmer’s Kindest Nation likely to give Fair Point a run for her money. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Abstract looks the best of the home bunch, but Fair Point can take this one back to Angleterre.

Leopardstown

Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes (Listed) 2.25
Power Under Me
Ger Lyons can take this Listed race with Power Under Me, who is finally notching up an impressive strike rate. This six year old Mehmas gelding has long promised to be a decent horse in this grade, and apart from a no-show on quicker ground in the Group 2 Solonoway Stakes here in September, does seem to save his best for this track, especially when there’s some cut. Joseph O’Brien’s Atlantic Coast goes to post after a nice win in a Listed race at Saint-Cloud earlier this month, so rates the biggest danger, while Jessica Harrington’s Norwalk Havoc, lining up in the Narchos family silks is a course and distance winner, and completes the shortlist. Power Under Me to make it a third win of this season, despite giving weight away.

Thomas’s Of Foxrock ‘Jim And Kathleen Murphy’ Memorial Trigo Stakes (Listed) 3.35
Fleur De Chine
Jessica Harrington can score in the second of the Listed races on Leopardstown’s Sunday card with Fleur De Chine. This Study Of Man filly chased home Power Under Me in the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary two weeks ago, but was closing through the line to suggest the return to this trip will be in her favour. The big danger is of course Elizabeth Jane, fourth in the Irish Oaks, and she does have course form here on heavy ground, while Noel Meade sends out the useful Lafayette, with Colin Keane a notable booking in the hot seat. It looks to be between these three, with Fleur De Chine getting the nudge.

Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap (Premier Handicap) 4.45
Autumn Winter
It should pay to side with Aidan O’Brien’s Autumn Winter for this October Handicap. This Galileo colt lines up fresh from a win at Thurles on good ground, but is going to be suited to this slower surface. His fine seventh in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was just 4 lengths behind Ralph Beckett’s Going The Distance showed potential for these big field handicaps, and back on home soil with ground to suit, he’s hard to ignore. Alan McIntyre’s Soaring Monarch and Jessica Harrington’s top-weighted Taipan rate the main dangers, but Autumn Winter is the one to follow.

The Mandarin