Waldgeist back

in cruise control

ONE horse who did seem to enjoy the fast ground on Sunday was Waldgeist as he registered his first triumph since landing the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud way back in October 2017 by beating the top Italian older horse, Way To Paris, in the Group 3 Prix d’Hedouville at ParisLongchamp.

A four-year-old Galileo colt from an outstanding German family, Waldgeist ran some excellent races in defeat last year, not least when caught on the line in the Prix du Jockey-Club and when a close fourth in the Irish Derby behind Capri at the Curragh.

He holds an entry in the Coronation Cup, a race his trainer André Fabre loves having won it six times, so it would be no surprise if he were to cross the Channel to enjoy a first taste of the Epsom roller-coaster.

WHILE France Galop has prompted largely positive reviews for the way that it has spent the €140 million set aside for the redevelopment of ParisLongchamp, it seems that it may have neglected the most important part of the whole venue – the racing surface itself.

Christophe Soumillion was scathing about the course on Sunday despite winning the Listed Prix de la Seine aboard the Azamour filly, Shahnaza, a distant relative of Shergar.

“It’s treacherous – false, full of holes and lacking grass,” the reigning champion jockey said.

“We’ve been warning for a while that a horse will get hurt and, lo and behold, one did have a problem in the big handicap today. I’ve decided to give up my remaining rides in protest.”

Alain de Royer-Dupré was of similar voice, saying: “Shahnaza is a Prix de Diane filly and I’ve just got to decide which route to take to get her there. If the track here remains as it is today, it won’t be via the Prix Saint-Alary….it’s too dangerous.”

He too added action to his words, withdrawing Dolianova from the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber, leaving the way clearer for Lida to complete a hat-trick for trainer Pia Brandt.

DELUGE

In France Galop’s defence, it has been an exceptional spring, with deluges followed by heatwaves and remarkable temperature changes.

The turf was baked on top on Sunday, just a few days after Paris had been experiencing overnight frosts.

Yet the weather cannot hide the fact that even for ParisLongchamp’s inaugural fixture back in early April a handful of racing professionals were grumbling about the state of the track.

Given that no racing had taken place there for two and a half years, the turf management has to be called into question.

Intellogent success

Trainer Fabrice Chappet began a big week – which he hopes may culminate in Poule d’Essai des Poulains victory for Dice Roll – in the perfect fashion at Chantilly on Monday when Intellogent gave his sire, Intello, a first pattern success by beating Patascoy by a head in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche.