Clive Cox was “very glad and relieved” to keep away from a large draw with Ghostwriter in Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Membership at Chantilly, dwell on Sky Sports activities Racing.
The son of Invincible Spirit has stable credentials within the French Derby after overcoming difficulties within the working to complete fourth within the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
That type was bolstered by positioned horses Rosalion and Haatem, who proceed to dominate the Irish equal, whereas sixth-placed Inisherin dropped the journey to safe a powerful success within the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
Provided that Ghostwriter went over a mile as a juvenile within the Royal Lodge after which stayed robust within the Guineas, a step up in distance appears sure to go well with the Geoff Smith-owned colt.
Cox stated: “We’re very proud of the 2 stalls. With 15 runners, we’re very proud of that. We do not have to fret about the truth that we’re at a large stage now, so thank God. We’re very glad and it is undoubtedly a bit of the puzzle that was disassembled.
“He’s in excellent form and we’re wanting ahead to the journey. I actually assume the step as much as 10 furlongs will likely be good for him and the bottom is similar for all horses.
“He is solely been on the quicker floor in order that’s an space we simply have to seek out out, however I am positive with the best way he strikes he’ll deal with himself on the softer floor.
“We have had an excellent week to date and presently of 12 months it is good to have some actually good racing.
“Ghostwriter’s most important goal was the Guineas and he ran a brilliant race to complete fourth. Surely, Guinea’s type already reveals how robust Guinea was.
“You’ve a primary and second horse within the Irish Guineas after which a sixth horse to win Sandy Lane. It is nice to see that this manner appears to be like so sturdy.
“We’re wanting ahead to going over a mile and 1 / 4, he does not have a filly on the Champs Elysees and I am very assured that successful over a mile at Royal Lodge final 12 months has given us confidence that with extra energy we’ll capable of activate on the journey.
“And after such a pleasant run within the Guineas, we’re actually wanting ahead to it.”
Aidan O’Brien, who gained the prize three years in the past with St Mark’s, can also be wanting ahead to making an attempt Diego Velázquez on an extended journey.
The son of Frankel has gained the Group Two Golden Fleece Stakes over the space at Leopardstown twice and did his greatest when fourth within the French 2000 Guineas for the primary time in that interval.
Diego Velazquez will signify Aidan O’Brien within the French Derby
O’Brien stated: “With Diego we felt a mile was so far as he wished to go and we thought a mile and 1 / 4 is perhaps his best journey.
“Clearly he may have gone additional, however we have all the time seen him as a French Derby horse greater than the rest.
“We thought and hoped that Chantilly would go well with him. All the things went very properly for the reason that French Guineas, he got here out of it very properly.
“He stays and he has no issues. Final time it was excellent, we have been delighted and Christophe (Soumillion) was additionally very proud of him.
“We undoubtedly assume he has sufficient class, particularly for a mile-and-a-quarter horse.”
David Menuisier’s Sunway has been overwhelmed favourite in two begins this season however has a Group One win in France on his CV final time period when he beat reverse Alcantara within the Criterium Worldwide at St Cloud on very delicate floor.
“Someday he’ll present the identical class within the afternoon as he does within the morning,” Menuzier stated. “Sunway proved final 12 months that he was an excellent horse and has massive races in him.”
Bookies charge Quick Tracker because the main dwelling hope, the Henri-Alex Pantall-trained son of Churchill was snapped up by Wathnan Racing after scoring by a large margin at Listed stage over this observe and distance.
James Doyle takes the journey and Pantal stated: “Quick Tracker is a simple journey as he races well, does not drag and he’ll be capable to adapt. There is just one draw back to his racing type as he wants time to decide on when the tempo is quickening.”
Look De Vega is unbeaten after Carlos and Ian Lerner’s two begins, whereas Ace Affect’s half-brother Arrow Eagle represents final 12 months’s successful mixture of coach Jean-Claude Rouget and jockey Christian Demours.
Rouget additionally saddles Wahdan and Grecian Storm as he bids for a hat-trick of Prix du Jockey Membership triumphs.