Prix De La Foret 2013

4.40 Longchamp

Qatar Prix De La Foret (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €171,631

Advice: 4 pts win Moonlight Cloud (evs general)

Gordon Lord Bryon: Capped fine improvement when he won this race in 2012 and hasn’t dropped away since, fourth in Golden Jubilee, third behind Moonlight Cloud in Maruice De Ghesst and a deeply impressive winner of the Sprint Cup in conditions that favoured him; Can go close to retaining his title.

American Devil: Ran above himself in Maurice de Gheest at Deauville when fifth behind Moonlight Cloud, but shown little else to suggest that he could take a hand here.

Dux Shcolar: Smooth winner of Meydan handicap in February but well beaten in all three group tries since and hard to imagine him suddenly changing that here.

Sommerabend: Finally showing something like the form that he was showing in 2011, but plenty more needed in this field than close third in C&D Group 3 last time.

Blarney Stone: Travelling companion of Arc favourite Orfevre, but only 4 wins from 27 starts in Japan and out of depth.

Style Venedome: Stuck his neck out at the right time to win French 2,000 Guineas but lucky to take the win and since exposed the last twice, fourth in Prix Jean Prat and well beaten in Moulin here; Possible he’s still overpriced but might want faster ground and others look more solid choices here.

Garswood: Well worth his place heee following convicting Free Handicap win, close fourth in strong Jersey Stakes, and Lennox Stakes win at Goodwood, but exposed as below that level when only sixth in Sprint Cup; Others make more appeal despite step back up to 7 furlongs.

Anodin: Only seventh in French Guineas but couldn’t settle, won group 3 nicely afterwards, and much better than he’s been able to show last twice, having ended up with far too much to do; Not sure that seven furlongs around here will be his bag but potentially interesting.

Intense Pink: Has the ground that suits her but so much to find based on heavy defeats in 6f group 1’s the last twice.

Moonlight Cloud: Fast become one of the best mares of recent times, taking two Group 1’s in a week during Deauville’s summer season, completing hat-trick in Maurice De Gheest in fine style with Gordon Lord Bryon well behind, and then landing vintage renewal of Prix Jacques Le Marois, holding on having sprinted clear 1 and a half furlongs out; 7 furlongs on soft ground around her as good as it gets for her and should prove immeasurably hard to beat.

Viztoria: Looked as if she could be anything when obliterating rivals on first two starts before defeat at the end of her juvenile season; Won the two times that she’s run at 7 furlongs this season, notably on faster ground then she’ll get today to revel in, and quite impressive at Doncaster latest even if this big form step up.

VERDICT: MOONLIGHT CLOUD’S European farewell can be a happier one than that of Goldikova’s, with trip, track and ground no problem for the 4 time Group 1 winner who holds Gordon Lord Bryon and others on her Maurice De Gheest form, and Freddie Head’s crack sprinter is the one they all have to beat. Viztoria is a good each/way shout and Anodin might be best of the biggest prices.