Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein 2012

12.30 Longchamp

Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €114,420

Advice: 1 pt win Sarikayla (9/2 Hills)

Zinbaa: Much improved since fifth in this last year, winning Prix De Muget in impressive style (far superior than winning distance actually suggested) before good fourth in Prix D’Isphahan; No reason given why he was off that level of form last time but if ready to go for 111 days, involved to say least.

Highland Knight: Bang in the mix on form that saw him take Group 2 Darley Oettingen-Rennen at Baden-Baden in fine style from the reopposing Dux Scholar; The worry is how he’d handle testing ground but should be right there.

Lucayan: Won desperately poor renewal of French Guineas and not matched that since, although he was forced wide in St James’s Palace and then stepped up to ten furlongs last time; Needs more here especially under his penalty.

Dux Scholar: Once very useful for Sir Michael Stoute but not been all that since leaving him, his best effort for some time being when well behind Highland Knight at Baden Baden last time; More needed.

Mainsail: Half-brother to 2006 Arc winner Rail Link who looked to have a big future when winning Listed event with ease by 3 lengths; Beaten in Prix Daphnis here but got no luck in running at all and

Tifongo: Needs to prove that he’s upto this level following heavy defeats in Group 3’s either side of Deavuille Listed win; Not sure he is.

Evaporation: Well held in this last year and 01-2 in group company despite consistent profile over the past few months and while she goes on all sorts of ground, hard to fancy off the back of 111 day break; Also behind Zinbaa at best.

Sarikyla: Won four out of her last five starts and no shame in being left behind by Moonlight Cloud and Farhh in Prix De Moulin latest; More needed but she is going the right way and has to be given  serious chance today if she finds more.

VERDICT: A tricky race to weigh up. SARIKYLA lost little to no caste when a well beaten third in the Prix Moulin and had been extremely progressive beforehand, and in a race where those at the head of the market have got doubts over how they’ll cope with the ground (Highland Knight) or how fit they’ll be for this task (Zinbaa and Evaporation), she makes quite a lot of appeal at the prices. Mainsail is expected to go very well, having failed to get a clear run beforehand.