French Derby Day

simmo

simmo

Senior Jockey
Joined
Mar 4, 2004
Messages
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South Lanarkshire
A few jumping out for today in France.

In the Prix du Gros-Chene (or as I like to erroneously call it - the Big Dog. It's actually a cheesemaking surrender monkey area/town) I like Rangali and Robot Boy. Muthmir is too short in the betting based on actual achievement, but could, of course, be anything. Rangali's 2nd in the Abbaye looks the best form on offer and at the prices I'd prefer to back Robot Boy to make the improvement from handicaps to Group races.

In the Royaumont, I fancy Kataniya to have enough improvement in her to account for all of these, several of which she has beaten before.

In the Jockey Club, I'm going with Karaktar to continue his climb to the top, with a saver on War Dispatch.

Prince Gibraltar has to be the bet in the GP de Chantilly.
 
New Bay ran a blinder in the Poulains. First thought was he'll take the beating in The Jockey Club. He'll do for me.

Toujours L'Amour in the Fillies race. Would be slightly worried if there was no pace. She does appear to stay well so hopefully it won't be a crawl.

Will side with Spiritjim back in trip in the GP.
 
Trainer says, "Karaktar
3 b c High Chaparral - Karawana
Winner of a listed by seven lengths and recent winner of the group 3 Prix Noailles, where he came from off the pace to easily score by three and a half lengths.
"A truly exceptional horse who really stands out. He has such a great action, everything is so fluid, and the day after he won he trotted like he hadn't run the day before. A really interesting horse who at two won on his second start and then had a terrible run in the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon. Before that I thought he could have run in the Criterium, but following that third place we decided to just leave it at that for the season. That was probably a good thing, as he really progressed this winter, and has won in heavy ground and on fast ground. He has the option of both the Prix du Jockey Club or the Derby, for which he would have to be supplemented, but that wouldn't be the problem. There shouldn't be any stamina issues, even though on his dam's side there were a lot of sprinters in the third generation, which is why he has so much speed. But this is what makes the Aga Khan families so precious, and is why he has had great champions like Dalakhani and Zarkava, capable of winning over the mile and over the mile and a half. Karaktar is like those."
 
Very impressive. This kid Cheminaud looks a real talent as well. New Bay will be contesting all the top 10f races this summer and i'd be siding with him, he has real pace and clearly gets the distance well.
 
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