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.
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