Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) 2010

1.45 Longchamp
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) (2YO only)
Winner €200,235

Pick: Moonlight Cloud (win)

Magiuri: Unextended to land 2 conditions events in easy style before improving again with a win in listed company over C&D (Very soft ground) ;was rather easily brushed aside by My Name Is Bond last time and this probably going to end up being too tough.

Wotton Bassett: Has been cleaning up in sales races, landing his second big pot when confirming superiority by a length over 109 rated Galtymore Lad off 8lbs worse terms at Doncaster last time; That display reads very well and cannot be underestimated but this whole world tougher and ground is very much against him.

Treasury Devil: $1,000,000 colt who has been untested and very impressive in 2 smooth wins so far, sauntering home at Sandown last month, cutting down the stronger-travelling and more experienced Introvert in a matter of strides; This totally different surface though and much tougher test, so one would have to be marginally against him despite talent.

Whipless: Solidly beaten on debut and improved loads to take Curragh maiden by narrow margin last time out, showing good speed but seemingly gaining a definite advantage by being in the middle; Stepped up majorly trainer is very shrewd with overseas runners and no back marker.

Tin Horse: Looked like horse with future when bolting up by a combined total of 7 lengths on his first 2 starts, barely extended to beat Realisatrice and Zack Yield; Well beaten in Robert Papin but shaped competely differently in the Morny and contender here.

King Torus: Created good impression on Leicester debut, being green early but then staying on powerfully to score by 5 lengths; Best of him not seen at Royal Ascot but he put that right when winning the Superlative Stakes by a neck, and demolished field in Vintage Stakes last time, a display that makes him one to beat here; However, that win just hasn’t worked out and soft ground could be undoing.

Utley: Confirmed decent debut impression when landing 7f Doncaster maiden in workmanlike style, a major plus given as the ground will be the same (very testing); That win only a maiden and will need a lot more to get involved, as second string.

My Name Is Bond: Looked only ordinary before coasting home without coming off the bit in trial for this, covering the 7f in 1m 20.5 seconds which is a record for the Rochette; He handles soft ground but that was on marginally quicker surface and opposition nowhere near this standard; Should be there at business end but this tougher test.

Moonlight Cloud: Winner of her debut on the all-weather at Deauville in August by two and a half lengths, and further confirmed her class when gliding into the lead to romp away with conditions event by six lengths nearly a month ago; Trainer has called her “the best 2 year old I’ve ever had”, high praise indeed, and big run seemingly coming.

VERDICT: A very high class renewal of this race, while has been won by some great horses. A notably strong challenge from the UK and Ireland is headed by King Torus, who looked like a Group 1 horse in waiting when winning the Vintage Stakes, but that form hasn’t worked out and a soft surface is a worry, for nearly all of the main contenders. MOONLIGHT CLOUD has shown exceptional ability on her 2 starts, and given that they were both on a soft surface, she could well have an edge on the ground. In any case, she is probably up to this level.