Eight runners will go to post on Sunday at Longchamp for one of the highlights of the French flat season, the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
The favourite with William Hill for the 1 mile Group 1 is Christopher Head’s Big Rock, at 2.50.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 2nd, 1:30 P.M. (BST)
The three-year-old was second on his last two outings, behind Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June, before being bettered by Inspiral in the Prix Jacques le Marois last month.
Aurelien Lemaitre will be on board tomorrow as he was for those two outings and the four-race winning run earlier in the year.
Facteur Cheval was second to Paddington at Glorious Goodwood a month ago in the Sussex Stakes, after two thirds and another second in three group races earlier this season.
Mikael Barzalona will take the ride for the first time on the 4.50 chance, who has never finished worse than fourth in seven group races.
J-C Rouget’s Erevann finished back in sixth in the Jacques le Marois and fifth in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May, in which Facteur Cheval was placed.
Cristian Demuro takes the ride on the 8.50 shot for the second time, eleven months on from his last victory; a Group two over Sunday’s course and distance.
Sauterne (10.00) has two seconds and two thirds in her last four races, most recently a third in the fillies’ Group 1, the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in July. The mount of Tony Piccone has only won once over a mile, in a race for two-year-old fillies in December.
Five-year-old Fast Raaj (11.00) is the oldest in the race and is the only one to come into this race on a winning streak, winning his previous two. After three uninspiring performances at Meydan, he returned to France with wins at Nantes and a Group 3 at Chantilly.
Despite his age, he is less experienced at this level, only entering one Group 1 for three-year-olds before this.
Topgear (15.00) was second in that Chantilly Group 3 and has in fact been runner-up in his last three. Having never raced above that group before, it will be a tough ask to keep that run going or better it.
Kelina (11.00) was fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in May but only eighth of nine in the Rothschild. This will be her first race against colts and horses.
Winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a Group 1 for two-year-olds at Longchamp, Belbek cannot be completely discounted at 21.00, but he has never raced over more than 7 furlongs.
