International Guide: Ghaiyyath seeks fourth straight Group 1 win
You might be thinking the upcoming weekend of racing looks pretty quiet. That might be true as far as North American racing goes—the Kentucky Derby is over, Del Mar and Saratoga have wrapped up for the season, and there isn’t a single Grade 1 race on the horizon. Yes, that sounds pretty quiet.
But in Europe, we’re just three weeks removed from the coveted Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which means an epic weekend of racing awaits! No fewer than nine Group 1 races (plus a bevy of Group 2 and Group 3 prizes) are on the agenda in England, Ireland, France, and Germany, with Ghaiyyath and Stradivarius among the major names in the entries.
We can’t possibly cover everything, so let’s highlight half a dozen of the most interesting races to follow. If you want to watch all the action in France, sign up for a free account at http://www.france-galop.com/en to access livestreams.
Saturday
Leopardstown, Ireland, Race 3: Matron Stakes (G1, 10:10 a.m. EDT)
Peaceful defeated Fancy Blue in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1). Fancy Blue turned the tables in the Nassau (G1). The two talented 3-year-olds will square off again in the Matron, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue is favored after rattling off back-to-back Group 1 wins racing 1 1/4 miles or farther, with the Prix de Diane (G1) ranking as her other major acquisition. But the 1-mile distance of the Matron could potentially tip the scales back in favor of Peaceful, a daughter of Galileo conditioned by Donnacha’s father, Aidan O’Brien. The outcome could go either way.
Doncaster, England, Race 5: St. Leger Stakes (G1, 10:35 a.m. EDT)
Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby (G1) winner Santiago can pick up his second classic win in the historic St. Leger, a 1 13/16-mile test of class and stamina. Fresh off a third-place finish behind superstar stayer Stradivarius in the 2-mile Goodwood Cup (G1), Santiago should relish the extended trip of the St. Leger and vie for victory under legendary jockey Frankie Dettori.
But Santiago could face stiff competition from Epsom Derby (G1) competitor Pyledriver, a runaway winner of the 1 1/2-mile Great Voltigeur (G2) at York. The lightly-raced Hukum is also a viable contender after rattling off three straight victorious, including an easy triumph in the 1 11/16-mile Geoffrey Freer (G3) at Newbury. A competitive finish should be on tap in the final British classic of the season.
Leopardstown, Ireland, Race 5: Irish Champion Stakes (G1, 11:10 a.m. EDT)
The sensational Ghaiyyath has been unstoppable this season, winning the Coronation Cup (G1), Coral-Eclipse (G1), and Juddmonte International (G1) at the expense of 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, the above-mentioned Stradivarius, two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable, and globetrotting Group 1 star Magical.
A remarkable front-runner with a seemingly unbeatable blend of speed and stamina, Ghaiyyath can further cement his status as Europe’s leading middle-distance star with a triumph in the 1 1/4-mile Irish Champion, which serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). He’s facing a deep field led by Group 1 winners Magical, Japan, and Sottsass, but if Ghaiyyath fires off his A-game, it will be tough for anyone to run him down.
Sunday
Longchamp, France, Race 5: Grand Prix de Paris (G1, 9:50 a.m. EDT)
Aidan O’Brien’s front-running Serpentine made headlines in July when he crushed the Epsom Derby in gate-to-wire fashion, dominating by 5 1/2 lengths. The son of Galileo hasn’t run since, but he’s set to reemerge on Sunday in the Grand Prix de Paris, where he’ll face nine rivals traveling 1 1/2 miles.
The Grand Prix de Paris is expected to be another romp for the heavy favorite. German Derby (G1) victor In Swoop and Prix Hocquart (G2) winner Port Guillaume can vie for spots on the board, but if Serpentine runs back to his Epsom Derby form, the rest are likely running for second place.
Longchamp, France, Race 6: Prix Vermeille (G1, 10:35 a.m. EDT)
A prominent stepping stone toward the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Prix Vermeille is a 1 1/2-mile test of speed and stamina open to fillies and mares. 3-year-olds are widely expected to claim top honors in 2020, with the up-and-coming Raabihah heavily favored off a runaway win in the Prix de Psyche (G3) traveling 1 1/4 miles at Deauville. Previously fourth behind Fancy Blue and Peaceful in the Prix de Diane, this lightly-raced daughter of Sea the Stars is 3-for-4 overall and still improving.
But Even So could give her a stiff fight, having most recently rolled to a two-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile Irish Oaks (G1). With her proven ability over the class level and distance of the Prix Vermeille, Even So has fewer questions to answer than the hot betting favorite.
Longchamp, France, Race 7: Prix Foy (G2, 11:10 a.m. EDT)
Stradivarius has been nothing less than sensational over distances ranging from 1 3/4 miles to 2 1/2 miles, winning 14 group stakes events over his preferred marathon trips. Trained by John Gosden, the son of Sea the Stars has proven capable of producing a stellar turn-of-foot even at the end of 2 1/2 miles, so on Sunday his connections will cut Stradivarius back to 1 1/2 miles for the Prix Foy (G2) in hopes of developing the chestnut 6-year-old into a contender for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The Prix Foy will be a perfect test of Stradivarius’ ability to handle shorter distances. While the field is small, he’ll face some quality 1 1/2-mile runners, including Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) 1-2 finishers Way to Paris and Nagano Gold. If Frankie Dettori can guide Stradivarius to victory against this competitive field, the Arc de Triomphe will loom as an intriguing new goal for the amazing stayer.
Enjoy the racing!