Hurricane Poised For Grand Prix

Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was the subject of an upbeat bulletin from Charlie Appleby as he prepares for Wednesday's G1 Grand Prix de Paris which drew a final field of 11. Supplemented for Paris Longchamp's 12-furlong contest having taken the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 26, he was drawn in seven with two of the Ballydoyle trio Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in five and six respectively.

“Hurricane Lane heads to Paris in good order,” his trainer said on Monday. “We expected him to need some time after what looked a hard race in the Irish Derby, but he surprised us with how well he came out of it. He worked nicely over the weekend and we opted to take this route as there is plenty of time between now and the St Leger. This looks a good opportunity to hopefully win another Group 1 over a mile and a half and he looks the one to beat.”

Favourably drawn in one is The Aga Khan's G1 Prix du Jockey Club fourth Saiydabad (Blame), who was an eye-catcher from stall 11 in that 10 1/2-furlong Chantilly Classic June 6. Also representing Jean-Claude Rouget is White Birch Farm's Cheshire Academy (Fr) (Flintshire {GB}), who fared even worse with the post position there and also made up late ground to be fifth. Drawn four this time, the son of the 2013 Grand Prix de Paris hero returns to the scene of his success in the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Noailles Apr. 11.

“Saiydabad had a good run in the Jockey Club, even if he does always take a little while to get going,” Rouget said. “It all opened up for him on the rail and he finished out the race very strongly.

“With Cheshire Academy, the draw went against him. We should not forget that he had a little niggle for a couple of days in the weeks leading up to the race and missed a gallop. With all those factors included, his fifth-place finish was very good. I think that both horses are indifferent in terms of ground conditions, they will both be suited by the step up in trip.

“Who is the best out of the two? We will find out on Wednesday! All I can say is that they both have had a good preparation leading into the race and I think they have very good chances.”

There was no positive news for William Haggas, with M M Stables' Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial and June 18 G2 King Edward VII S. winner Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) drawn widest of all in 11.

Stormy conditions continue, but the manager of France Galop's racecourses and training centres Matthieu Vincent is hoping the track will be spot-on for the evening's fixture.

“In an ideal situation, we would be hoping for a reading of 3.2 or 3.3,” he said. “At midday on Friday, the track at ParisLongchamp was gauged to be at 3.4, having been watered and worked following racing on Thursday.”

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Flintshire’s Cheshire Academy in Noailles Upgrade

White Birch Farm's Cheshire Academy (Fr) (Flintshire {GB}), who was victorious over 10 furlongs at Pau in both prior starts, retained his perfect record–after a fashion–when stewards intervened to promote the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee from a second-place finish, at the expense of 4-5 favourite Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The 37-10 chance was slowest away and raced towards the rear until turning for home in this black-type bow. Nudged along to reduce arrears with 500 metres remaining, he came under increased pressure passing the quarter-mile marker and, impeded by the errant Pretty Tiger when set to pounce deep inside the final furlong, kept on well to finish a sliver behind that subsequently demoted rival.

“I didn't see the incident live, but from watching the head-on replay it was obvious and, with a nose between the two, I am not surprised the stewards took the 'winner' down,” explained trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “This horse has a great potential, he has improved physically with time, but is very immature and still on the weak side. He would have preferred faster ground and the jockey said it was too soft for him. He quickened like a good one in the straight and will now go straight to the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey club [at Chantilly]. That will give him time to get stronger and, even if he doesn't win, it should set him up for the [July 14 G1] Grand Prix de Paris over one-and-a-half miles back here. That could be his race and, with time, he should definitely develop into a nice horse.”

Cheshire Academy is the first of two foals produced by stakes-winning GI Flower Bowl S. runner-up Danza Cavallo (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}), herself full to MGSW Scandinavian champion Brownie (Fr) and one of three stakes winners out of the Listed Prix Urban Sea runner-up Tropical Mark (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). Tropical Mark is a granddaughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Tropicaro (Fr) (Caro {Ire}), who produced G3 Prix La Force scorer The Scout (Kris {GB}) and is the ancestress of G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua victor Amaron (GB) (Shamardal). Danza Cavallo, who is also a half-sister to GSW G1 Prix du Cadran third Trip To Rhodos (Fr) (Rail Link {GB}), has a yearling filly by Almanzor (Fr) to come.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX NOAILLES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-11, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:20.55, sf.
1–CHESHIRE ACADEMY (FR), 128, c, 3, by Flintshire (GB)
1st Dam: Danza Cavallo (Fr) (SW-Fr & GISP-US, $343,202), by Sunday Break {Jpn})
2nd Dam: Tropical Mark (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tropical Zone (GB), by Machiavellian
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€77,000 Ylg '19 AROCT). O-White Birch Farm; B-SF Bloodstock SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €57,750. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
*2–Pretty Tiger (Ire), 128, c, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Fast and Pretty (Ire), by Zamindar. (€105,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Bernard Giraudon; B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (IRE); T-Fabrice Vermeulen. €16,000.
3–Gregolimo (Fr), 128, c, 3, Galiway (GB)–Kendannemarie (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€23,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Mme Meryl de Watrigant, Jerome Vallier & Ecurie Pierre Pilarski; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Simone Brogi. €12,000.
Margins: (NO, 2HF, 3/4). Odds: 3.70, 0.80, 20.00.
Also Ran: Tokyo Gold (Fr), Media Stream (GB), Sa'ad (Fr), Baha Mar (Fr), Mythico (Fr), Fourviere (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

*Demoted from first.

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