Longchamp hold centre stage this weekend with Sunday’s Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe the highlight on day two of the top class action taking place on the Bois De Boulogne. Not to be outdone Newmarket stage a Group 1 contest of their own on Saturday afternoon courtesy of the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes which has attracted a quality field of thirteen fillies and mares at Monday’s forfeit stage.
The admirable Laurens heads the betting at a best price 2-1 ( bet365 and Betway ) following her shock defeat of the outstanding Irish filly Alpha Centauri in Leopardstown’s Matron Stakes last month but with the runner-up suffering a career-ending injury during the race the form should not be taken at face value. While Laurens is a credit to her trainer Kark Burke the daughter of Siyouni’s six victories have been achieved at distances ranging from a nose to three quarters of a length, so at a short price looks worth taking on with a better value alternative.
Chief market rival to Laurens at a general 4-1 is Sir Michael Stoute’s Veracious who got back to winning ways in a Sandown Group 3 contest last time after failing at the highest level at both Royal Ascot and Goodwood. The all-conquering Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien have three possibles in Clemmie, I Can Fly and Happily, the first named appearing to be their main hope at this stage. Qipco 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook would go close if reproducing her victory in that Classic but at the 6-1 available with Betway the prize can go across the channel with the Andre Fabre-trained Wind Chimes.
The French have a great recent record in the one mile contest, being responsible for five of the last nine renewals, and based on her most recent start when failing by only a head to peg back Recoletos in the Group 1 Prix de Moulin with the likes of Expert Eye, Lightning Spear and Without Parole well beaten off the Mastercraftsman filly must have a great chance of emulating Esoterique who took the race for Fabre back in 2015.
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