Weekend Winners - French Derby Weekend

Before we begin, I just want to say a few words as this will be my final piece for Racing Weekly. After nearly four years of writing for Old Gold, it has genuinely been a privilege and I have been lucky enough to make some fantastic memories along the way. From correctly previewing Apple Away’s Grade 1 Sefton success, to guest speaking at York with so many of you there, it has been a brilliant journey and one I will always be grateful for. Racing has a way of creating special moments and being able to share my thoughts with you all each week has been something I have genuinely loved. All good things come to an end eventually, but hopefully we can sign off with a few winners this weekend!

Thursday

17.42 Sandown - Star Sports National Stakes (Listed)

They won’t be hanging around here and this is a good race to kickstart proceedings at Sandown tonight. Adday Of Scarlett tops the market after following up his impressive victory at Newmarket with success in a conditions race at Ascot. Oisin Murphy gets back onboard having won on him on debut so you would expect a bold performance. I am giving another chance to PRINCESSE D’ORANGE though who despite disappointing at York two weeks ago, David O’Meara’s yard were not exactly firing on all cylinders. Two winners yesterday may be the turning point for the yard and this horse could bounce back at a big price. Of the rest, I think Napa showed a ton of improvement last time out at Newmarket, scoring from the front. He was a much shorter price earlier in the week and is tempting to back at his current odds.

18.12 Sandown - Star Sports Henry II Stakes (Group 3)

John & Thady Gosden have won the last two runnings of this race and Sweet William, a short priced favourite tonight, is favourite to regain his crown that he won in 2024. He made a pleasing reappearance when getting the better of subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. He has a five-pound penalty to concede to his rivals today and that could mean that LAZY GRIFF is the one to keep onside. Although he hasn’t been sighted since June last year when he bumped into Lambourn in both the Epsom and Irish Derby, all plans were for him to step up in trip for the St Leger. His trainer Charlie Johnston said in July last year that he believes he will improve for the trip and extra distance so unless race fitness catches him out today, he will be bang there. Epic Poet is an interesting runner after a solid run in the Yorkshire Cup on his most recent run. He is reliable so could be one for each way punters.

19.12 Sandown - Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)

One of the world’s best racehorses makes his seasonal reapperance here in the UK following a successful trip to Meydan in March where he won the Group 1 Dubai Turf in devastating style. His turn of foot has been nothing short of sensational throughout his career and although he was beaten in this race last year, I think OMBUDSMAN will win this comfortably this time around. He’ll then head to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting where he’ll be a warm favourite once more, if all goes well. In terms of his opposition tonight, Gethin looks to be the biggest danger having been purchased by Wathnan since his last run. This will certainly be his toughest task to date but he has race fitness on his side.

Saturday

3.10 Carlisle - Betway Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)

After Haydock’s inner track was found to be unsuitable for racing during an inspection on Tuesday, the BHA confirmed an eight-race card will now be staged at Carlisle on Saturday, including this Group 3 Betway Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes. All runners have held their ground at declarations stage and I would fancy Estrange to make a winning seasonal reappearance but the forecast doesn’t suggest it will be in her favour. Back in August last year, David O’Meara said: “We won’t run her on ground that has firm in the description”. That alone is enough to put me off given the recent weather and current ground conditions being Good to Firm at Carlisle. I am going to side with AZANIYA for the Owen Burrows team who despite appreciating softer ground, has able to win when it has been rattling fast and that success had her Kieran Shoemark onboard which she will have again on Saturday. She made a pleasing comeback behind Sunly who finished second behind Aventure at Longchamp so that wasn’t a bad run and she could be dangerous in this from the front.

Sunday

3.30 - Qatar Prix Du Jockey Club (Group 1)

The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club looks one of the most fascinating renewals in recent years with a deep field assembled for Sunday’s French Derby at Chantilly. Aidan O’Brien unsurprisingly arrives mob handed once again with Constitution River, Hawk Mountain and Montreal all representing Ballydoyle, while the home team look particularly strong through the likes of Dolmalan, Komorebi and Daryzan. Constitution River heads the market after an impressive success in the Dee Stakes at Chester and Ryan Moore’s mount has long looked like one of Ballydoyle’s leading middle distance colts. Hawk Mountain also deserves plenty of respect after winning the Prix de Guiche over course and distance earlier this month, while André Fabre’s Komorebi remains open to improvement after just three career starts.

However, DARYZAN is the one I keep coming back to and he could be a very special colt in the making for Francis Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs. The son of Zarak created a huge impression when making a winning debut at Saint Cloud earlier this month, travelling strongly throughout before quickening clear to score by five lengths. It takes a brave trainer to throw a horse from maiden company straight into a Group 1 like this, but Graffard has never hidden the regard in which he holds this colt and the pedigree strongly backs up the decision. He is a half brother to last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz and looks every inch a horse capable of developing into a top class middle distance performer himself. Mickaël Barzalona keeps the ride after drawing stall 10 and that looks a perfect position to get cover before hopefully producing what could be a serious turn of foot in the straight. France Galop noted earlier this week that no horse has won the Prix du Jockey Club after just one previous career start, but records are there to be broken and Daryzan looks capable of being that type of horse.