Raclette improving all the time

The domestic racing this week has been ropey to say the least - small fields and poor prize-money. France offered some quality on Thursday evening with the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris being the highlight at Longchamp. Victory went to Onesto who had finished fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club on his previous start. Held up, Fabrice Chappet's colt appreciated the step up to a mile and a half showing a good turn of foot to come from last to first. A neck winner, he is likely to be aimed at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe over the same course and distance (2nd October). Unfortunately, Eldar Eldarov could only finish fourth losing his unbeaten record in the process. Roger Varian's Royal Ascot winner was well positioned and held every chance turning for home. However, the son of Dubawi lacked a change of gear which saw him outpaced before staying on again. Beaten around five lengths, his main target is the St Leger and he will appreciate the return to longer distances. He isn't quick enough to win a Group 1 over twelve furlongs on drying ground. Fingers crossed the underfoot conditions are on the slow side on Town Moor in September.

Ahead On The Flat was amongst the winners earlier on the card at the Parisian venue. Raclette was highlighted in the French Classic Contenders on page 129. Andre Fabre's filly, who won both her starts as a juvenile, was reportedly slow to come to hand this year and needed her first couple of outings in the spring. A comfortable winner of a ten furlongs Listed event at the same track last month, the daughter of Frankel relished the step up to a mile and a half in the Group 2 fillies' event and stayed on strongly under Olivier Peslier to beat Lastotchka by a head with the highly regarded Baiykara in third. The Prix Vermeille over the same C&D (11th September) will almost certainly be her next target. According to racingpost.com, the Group 2 fillies contest was run in 17 seconds faster time than the Grand Prix de Paris - I find that hard to believe. 

I am working at Hamilton Park on Friday and then returning to Scotland on Monday for Ayr. I will therefore update the Diary in between trips north of the border. Next week, I intend starting to interview for One Jump Ahead. It promises to be a scorching few days from Sunday to Tuesday - I was always told to drink plenty in such circumstances.