The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 3rd September 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from ParisLongchamp

Prix la Rochette (Group 3) 12.45
Beauvatier (nap)
Yann Barberot has a hot one in his yard here with Beauvatier, who lines up on a four-timer after wins at Chantilly, Saint-Cloud and Deauville. On his second outing, he beat the exciting filly, Ramatuelle, form that was franked when she was a short-head second in the Group 1 Prix Morny. Particularly impressive last time out, where he won at a canter, this Lope De Vega colt looks ready to step into Pattern company in this Group 3 contest. His next date is over at Newmarket for the Group 1 Dewhurst next month, so should be winning this if he’s to be a player in that important Juvenile race

Prix Gladiateur (Group 3) 1.30
Skazino
It may pay to side with the solid Skazino for this Group 3 stayers race. Patrice Cottier’s seven-year-old is fully out there after thirty-seven career starts, but knows how to get the job done at this level, and has already bagged a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud this term, beating the re-opposing Moon Wolf. Prolific Handicap winner, Rock Joyeux, rates the main danger, and is probably due some Black Type soon enough, but Skazino just edges it

Prix du Prince d’Orange (Group 3) 2.05
Horizon Dore (nb)
Patrice Cottier sends out course and distance winner Horizon Dore for this Group 3, before a trip across the Channel for the Champion Stakes at Ascot. He’s a speedy type that comes from off the pace in typical French racing style, but might have his work cut out to get the better of Francis-Henri Graffard’s Goliath. The German bred gelding lines up here on a four-timer, with his latest win in a Listed contest at Clairefontaine. These are the one-two, with marginal preference for Horizon Dore

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Group 1) 3.33
Big Rock
Christopher Head holds the key to the feature with Big Rock, who only found the rejuvenated Inspiral too good in the Group 1 Jacques le Marois last month. Big Rock tried to take that race from the front, and did all but succeed in fending off Frankie Dettori on Inspiral, but with that raider not lining up here, can go one better. Big Rock is a course winner here, and should be good enough for Group 1 honours from the front, with Nassau Stakes runner-up Facteur Cheval the big threat back on home soil

La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (Group 3) 4.08
Monty
Andreas Schutz has last year’s winner going to post for the last of the Pattern races on Sunday’s card. He had favourite Sealiway back in fourth last year, so it’s horses for courses for Monty to defend his crown. He’s been a bit a slow to come to the boil this term, but ran hotter for third place in this grade at Deauville last time out behind the useful Place Du Carrousel, so gets the tick

The Mandarin