Qatar Prix De La Foret 2010

2.20 Longchamp
Qatar Prix De La Foret (Group 1) (3YO plus)
Winner €143,025

Picks: Goldikova (win), Joanna (each/way)

Kargali: May have improved a little even for the switch to a new stable when just getting better of Rayeni in soft ground Gladness Stakes; Has never won at higher than Group 3 level and class will find him out.

Regal Parade: Has confirmed himself top class in winning Maurice De Gheest and Hackwood this year, before running a little flat in Sprint Cup last time out; Ground will suit him but trip might not and this is tougher than his wins this season.

Mariol: Has not been at best this year and would be surprise winner to say least.

Smooth Operator: Odds of 66/1 look stupid based on his Maurice De Gheest fourth, but brought back down to earth on soft ground last time and was well beaten by both Joanna and Regal Parade in any case.

Paco Boy: Top class and well established miler who embarrassed field in this last year and looked just as good when landing Bet365 and Lockinge Stakes this season; Didn’t get the best of runs in the Queen Anne (too keen early, and Goldikova was clear before he got out) and while he was making serious ground before finish, he was never truly catching Goldikova; Unable to get out of ground in Jacuques Le Marois, and while he got n run in Prix Moulin, soft ground could stop him again and this is a very tough race.

Siyouni: Had looked like massive talking horse when winning first four starts in seamless style as juvenile, then ran into Cheveley Park winner Special Duty and set plenty to do when second to Buzzword before putting up arguably best ever performance in field to win Prix Jean Luc here on Arc weekend last year; Has run close to that all year, and being a son of Pivotal may be at home on soft ground; Contender.

Dick Turpin: Won first 4 starts, being as short as 16/1 for classics this season after winning sales race easily at Fairyhouse (Form flattened out but had excuses at the last backend); Has been super consistent revelation this year, winning Greenham before finishing runner – up in English Guineas, French Guineas, and St James’s Palace when running away with Prix Jean Prat; Step up to 10f did for him in Juddmonte International, but should love 7f trip, goes through soft and may be best of Hannon pair.

Goldikova: Now record 10 time Group 1 winner who had arguably best season ever last summer, winning the Falmouth before going on to trash high class fields, in Prix D’Astarte Jacues Le Marois and BC Mile; Impressive on her reappearance run in Prix D'Ishphan, and even better when beating off numerous high class sorts in the Queen Anne, only just holding off Paco Boy late on having burst clear a furlong out; Taking same route as she did last year when cantering home in Prix D’Astarte but soft ground undid her in Jacques Le Marois, and may do so again; That said, she will still take all the beating and ground may have dried out a little by off time.

Special Duty: Boasts high class 2 year old form, where she won the Chevley Park Stakes in good style, to add to her Prix Robert Papin win and excellent Prix Morny second; Needed the run on ground too soft on her reappearance run and proved so when landing 1,000 Guineas in Stewards room; Same story in French version, before coming back injured after Falmouth; May need this run after break, and soft ground does not augur well for her chances.

Joanna: Gritty winner of 7 furlong Deauville Group 3, following on from her Italian Listed win in similar style, and ran big race to be third in Marcel Boussac (behind Rosanara); Confirmed class when beating Special Duty in very heavy ground and has run well all year since, only just getting pipped at the end of the Prix Maurice De Gheest; Every chance she’s still improving an major player.

VERDICT: One of the best renewals for a good while, a continuing theme on this arc day. It’s a shame the ground is as bad as it is, and the advice is go very small stakes and enjoy the fireworks. It’s obvious that GOLDIKOVA won’t be at her best on soft ground, and she was beaten in this last year (a weaker renewal) when prepping for the BC Mile, but she might just be good enough to get away with it here, as she still beat off Paco Boy in the Jacques Le Marois and it’s debateable whether any of this field could beat Makfi. Siyouni will like the ground as a son of Pivotal but is well held by the classy and loveable Dick Turpin, who may well be the better of the Hannon pair. Special Duty is interesting on a comeback, but JOANNA beat her fair and Square on heavy ground earlier this season and she may not be that far off the very best here, so rates a fair each/way bet.