A colt with a big future

Ocean Atlantique, who is featured in the Classic Contenders section of the Appendix in Ahead On The Flat, looked just that as he destroyed a handful of opponents by upwards of five lengths in a Listed contest at Deauville on Sunday. Andre Fabre's American Pharoah colt had shaped well on his reappearance when runner-up in the Group 3 Prix La Force at Longchamp earlier this month. Stepping up in trip and ridden from the front, he readily pulled clear inside the final couple of furlongs to win hard held. Interestingly, last year's Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass contested the same two races en route to Classic success at Chantilly.

Following his impressive victory, one assumes he will be targeted at the French Derby, too (7th July), although it is not beyond the realms of possibility he could be steered towards the English version. He isn't entered at Epsom but is owned by the Coolmore team and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him supplemented. Yet to race beyond ten furlongs, he looks a strong stayer and a relentless galloper and one wouldn't expect a mile and a half to be a problem. Regardless of which Derby he lines up in, he looks sure to make his presence felt and is a horse with immense potential.

The declarations for Wednesday's action were published on Sunday morning and there are 5 runners from the Top 40 Prospects. The horses in question are on pages 10, 23, 25, 27 and 34 of Ahead on The Flat.