1.05 LongchampPrix d'Harcourt (Group 2) | 1m2f | 4yo+ | SSR
If the authorities could have chosen any horse trained in France to open today's festivities, then Sottsass would surely have got the vote. And while the atmosphere will be a muted one, there is no doubt that last season's European champion three-year-old would be a fitting winner to highlight the sport's return.
Few outside the Jean-Claude Rouget camp would have paid particular attention to a pretty lacklustre first run of what would become a stellar three-year-old season when Sottsass was only fifth in the Prix La Force last April, a performance he comprehensively left behind in four subsequent efforts.
Sottsass only has a 2lb penalty for his Group 1 heroics to shoulder, while he is officially rated 7lb superior to his nearest rival, Shaman.
He proved in the Prix de Suresnes last May that he handles soft ground and a third place in the Arc backs up the theory that is no real inconvenience to him.
In theory rust might be the only chink in his armour and it is not something with which Rouget appears overly concerned.
He said: "He is pretty straightforward to train and soft ground hasn't been a problem in the past. Obviously he's not at 100 per cent but I'm happy with his preparation."
Shaman heads Wertheimer armada
This race acts as a springboard for the Prix Ganay and owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer have shown no reticence in fielding three representatives.
Shaman found only Persian King too good in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains last May and also showed himself to be of genuine Group 1 calibre when chasing home Romanised in the Prix Jacques le Marois.
"He's a horse who has really grown into himself from three to four," said trainer Carlos-Laffon Parias of Shaman, the mount of the Wertheimer's retained number one, Maxime Guyon. "He has already won over 1,800 metres [1m1f] at Longchamp so we're trying him over 2,000 metres [1m2f]. Sottsass looks hard to beat but after that, if he stays, logically Shaman should be second. But it's a tough race all right."
The progressive Soudania beat the colts at Group 3 level here last September and it interesting that her owner-breeders have elected to keep her in training at four.
Trainer Freddy Head said: "She's a good mare and improved throughout last season but, of course, this is a step up in class. They're Group 1 horses in there so she's going to need to improve again. But she's in good shape and I think she'll run well."
The third runner to carry the blue and white Goldikova silks is Folamour, who is joined from the Andre Fabre stable by Godolphin's Syrtis.
"Syrtis and Folamour run here because of the lack of other opportunities for them at the moment," said Fabre. "I'm not sure if Syrtis will quite get the trip and the ground is going to be very heavy. Folamour would prefer a mile and a half."
Two fillies with a fitness edge
Villa Rosa made progress through her four-year-old season for Henri-Francois Devin, peaking with a gritty defeat of Intellogent over a straight 1m2f at Maisons-Laffitte in September.
Her comeback third on the Polytrack at Chantilly in early March will have been a help, comments that also apply to Simona, who recorded a career-best when making all in the Prix Exbury on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud.
"The filly has taken her race at Saint-Cloud well and I am delighted with her form," said Francis Graffard. "It's a high-class field so we approach the race with humility. She won her Group 3 well and she will have her ground so there is no pressure on us."
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