Hi all,
Welcome to June – and with it, the start of summer from a meteorological standpoint. It’s one of the finest months of the Flat season, and although Saturday was low-key by recent standards, there was still Group action to enjoy.
With the Derby and Oaks just days away, and Royal Ascot looming large, it was no surprise to see a slightly quieter Saturday. Even so, we had two Group 3s at Haydock and another at York, and field sizes held up well considering the proximity to Epsom and Ascot.
The weekend’s main event took place across the Channel – Sunday’s Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the French Classic and the best of Saturday’s Group action.
Camille Pissarro Paints a Perfect Picture at Chantilly
Sunday’s Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly brought together several familiar names from the French 2,000 Guineas – Camille Pissarro (3rd), Luther (4th), Ridari (5th), and Detain (6th) – with just 1¼ lengths separating them at Longchamp.
It looked wide open on paper, but Camille Pissarro confirmed the Guineas form with a smart success. Ryan Moore had him hard up against the rail and had to sit tight for a gap. When it came, the colt burst through nicely to win by half a length from Cualificar, with Detain a further neck away in third. The winner’s stablemate Trinity College helped set a fair pace and managed to hold on for fourth.
Just 7 ¼ lengths separated 17 of the 18 runners so the bunch finish means the form isn’t up too much. However, I think Camille Pissarro is much better than the rest. You can watch his win here.
Azimpour finished best of all in fifth, though didn’t get a clear run in the closing stages. One to note moving forward. Parachutiste from stall 17, had little chance but still managed to finish tenth, just over four lengths behind the winner. His pedigree suggests he’ll improve for 1m 4f.
Camille Pissarro stayed the 1m 2½f well, and Aidan O’Brien could now aim him at the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown next month – the same route he took with St Mark’s Basilica in 2021. I took the 10/1 with William Hill for Sandown. He was 50/1 on Saturday morning – that’s long gone now, and he’ll be shorter still if confirmed for the race.
With the Derby at Epsom just five days away Camille Pissarro is big fillip for Aidan O’Brien who has race favourite Delacroix.
Estrange Powers Home at Haydock
Last year, Queen Of The Pride won the Group 3 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes before going on to land the Lancashire Oaks. This time around, Estrange produced an even more striking performance and has loftier targets.
Estrange, who only burst onto the scene last August, was making just her fourth career start but looked every inch a Group 1 filly. Danny Tudhope dropped her in and rode with ice-cool confidence. Pushed wide to make her move, she cruised up to the leaders and produced a devastating turn of foot.
She swept past Shaha with ease, putting 4½ lengths between them at the line. That change of gear was something special.
Yes, this wasn’t Arc-winning form – but she’s smart and unexposed, and classy. The Lancashire Oaks is a possible next stop if the ground is no quicker than good. But based on this performance, her connections are right to be dreaming bigger. Now a best priced 20/1 for the Arc after this success.
The runner-up had won a Listed race at Goodwood on her return, so this was no soft touch. But she simply had no answer to the winner’s acceleration.
Trainer David O’Meara says she doesn’t want it too quick. That might limit her options, but she looks like a filly they’ll pick and choose targets for. She gave me shades of Alpinista albeit not as battle-hardened as that Arc winning filly.
Ten Bob Tony Toughs It Out
The Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes looked strong race on paper – and the race delivered.
Ten Bob Tony, backed before the off, made a winning seasonal return. Gelded over the winter and back up to 7f, he responded well to pressure. They went hard early. Ridden along 2f out, he hit the front inside the final furlong and dug deep to repel Kinross.
It turned into a real ding-dong battle inside the final furlong, with the pair drifting close together late. But the stewards allowed the result to stand – rightly so.
Audience, the 15/8 favourite, flopped again. He needs to lead — and couldn’t. Seventh place, no spark. He’s increasingly unreliable and looking ungenuine.
Scenic Swoops in the Bronte Cup
Over at York, Scenic built on her solid return effort to land the Group 3 Bronte Cup in thrilling fashion. Last year’s Galtres Stakes winner had chased home Shaha in a Listed race at Goodwood but went one better here – thanks to a peach of a ride from Saffie Osborne.
Held up in rear, she was produced late to nab last year’s winner Term Of Endearment in the final strides.
To her credit, the runner-up who had the run of the race from the front gave it everything. But Scenic was too strong in the finish.
Sueno, who was 2 lengths behind Scenic at Goodwood, was expected to relish the extra distance. But in truth, the first two home just stayed better.
I flagged this in Thursday’s column, but it bears repeating – running the Lester Piggott Stakes (1m 4f) and the Bronte Cup (1m 6f) on the same day seems poor race planning. Two Group 3s for older fillies and mares, over similar trips, within 30 minutes of each other? Makes little sense.
Monday Racing — Rajaking the One to Beat
There’s another Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap qualifier at Windsor this evening — this time for 3-year-olds over 6f (7:15).
Top-weight So Darn Hot sets a strong form standard. He bounced back to his best when finishing 3½ lengths 3rd of 12 to Invictus Gold at Newmarket last month. That was a slightly better race than this, but he shaped as if a sharp 6f might be on the short side. Any easing of the ground would help his cause.
Rajaking made a winning debut at Chelmsford last October and looked an improved gelding when winning a C&D novice here three weeks ago. He had to thread his way through the field but still picked up well to score.
Now 2-2, he makes his handicap debut off 86, which looks a fair starting point given his potential to improve again.
Let’s tick the boxes:
Form: Won last time ✅
Fitness: Recent run ✅
Conditions: C&D winner ✅
Market: Prominent in betting ✅
He ticks all four boxes. Expect a bold run.
In tomorrow’s column you’ll find some future winners from last week’s racing.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John