2.30 Longchamp
Prix De L'Opera Longines (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner €228,840
Advice: 1 pt win Tasaday (3/1 general)
Dalkala: Previous winner at this meeting, having landed Prix
Royalieu under a canny front running effort; Took Middleton Stakes at York in
May but since exposed at higher level and couldn’t hag on after being given an
easy lead in Deavuille’s Prix Jean Romanet; Look elsewhere. Sarkiyla: Strong finisher over a mile last year both here
and in UAE when fourth on World Cup night on Polytrack; Found pace too slow for
her at Ascot and step upto 10 furlongs did help her plenty latest, but that a
very weak race for the level and others make more appeal here. 
Thistle Bird: Deeply progressive last season when being
beaten only once, and had continued that vein into this season before Ascot
blowout in Windsor Forest Stakes; Career best when second in Nassau Stakes but
that a strangely run affair and below form once again latest; Ground also a
potential issue. 
Gifted Girl: Much improved this year, a comprehensive winner
of Ascot handicap over a mile before second to Thistle Bird, Pontefract Listed
win and well beaten second to Dank in US Grade 1 at Arlington; No shame in
defeat to Camborne latest and can go well for all that she’s still got some
improvement to go. 
Tasaday: One of the season’s most consistent improvers,
third in Pouliches and fourth in Diane, before winning the Prix de Physche and
Nonette, keeping her advantage of Sparkling Beam despite being 5lbs worse off
for second of those runs with runner up, both times an easy winner; No shame
when third to Treve and Wild Coco in Vermille when trip stretched her and can
make a bold bid to land maiden Group 1. 
Secret Gesture: Had the look of a quality middle distance
type when landing her maiden and then bolted up on return; Followed that with
thirds in Epsom, German, and Yorkshire Oaks when on all three occasions,
stamina failed her latest; Penelopa (who beat her into second) last in Vermille
which isn’t helpful but will go very well anyway. 
Red Lips: Met plenty of trouble when fourth in German Oaks,
enough to think that she too could have gotten seriously involved had she gotten a clear
run; Winner did nothing for that form in Vermille and dropping down in trip
also doesn’t look ideal. 
Silasol: Winner of the Marcel Boussac at 2 on heavy ground
and after being beaten on return, strong at finish to land the Saint-Alary in
the last stride; Ahead of Tasaday in the Diane and one could argue that she’s
not had the best circumstances to show her best since (slowly run races both at
Devuille and in Vermille); Would be favourite on Diane form for all that would
want a strong pace on here which she may not get. 
Eluethera: Worked way up from claimers to group races this
season and won Prix Du Royamont in fine style at Chantilly but no answer to
Tasaday latest and don’t see how that will change today.
VERDICT: Silasol beat TASADAY in the Prix De Diane but the
latter has improved since and sets a high standard on her Vermille third last
time at a trip that may well have stretched her. If able to repeat that, she
will take the beating, with Secret Gesture a prime contender at her best trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment