Oh my God this is a nice field.....
Ramonti in good shape for Moulin clash
by Desmond Stoneham and Tony O'Hehir
RAMONTI will head to the Prix du Moulin on Sunday in peak form after a positive final workout in Newmarket on Wednesday ahead of his clash with George Washington and three other Classic winners at Longchamp.
Godolphin's find of the season is aiming for a thirdsuccessive victory at the highest level, but faces fierce competition not only from last season's champion miler but also his Ballydoyle stablemate Astronomer Royal (French 2,000 Guineas), Darjina (French 1,000 Guineas), and Golden Titus (Italian 2,000 Guineas).
Godolphin enjoyed a confidence booster on Wednesday when Echo Of Light, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Group 3 Strensall Stakes in track record time at York.
Racing manager Simon Crisford said: “Ramonti definitely runs in the Moulin onSunday. He's in good form and a had a good blow this morning. This race has always been the plan since he won the Sussex Stakes.”
George Washington's trainer Aidan O'Brien on Wednesday revealed his intention to add Archipenko to the field.
Since flopping as a leading fancy for the Derby, Archipenko has had mixed luck. He was one of two high-profile pacemakers in the Eclipse who hared off and were then restrained in a bid to help George Washington beat the Derby winner Authorized, whose own pacesetter Champery was left out in front as a result.
O'Brien has also declared Astronomer Royal for the €228,560 contest. The colt knows Longchamp well having picked up the Poule d'Essai des Poulains over the course and distance and returned to France in July to run fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.
O'Brien said: “George Washington and Astronomer Royal will run in the Prix du Moulin and it is almost certain that we will supplement Archipenko for the race. We haven't finalised riding plans just yet.”
Darjina won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over the course and distance in May and most recently the Group 1 Prix d'Astarte over the straight mile at Deauville.
Her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said on Wednesday: “I am extremely pleased with the filly. It will be her first time against the colts and older horses but we have to try. I think she prefers good to firm or good but there was a little bit of soft at Deauville in the Astarte.
“I think she will have the right ground at Longchamp on Sunday though. I think she has improved from the Astarte. She was a bit fresh there and she looks better for the run.”
Royer-Dupre will also run Linngari, a five-year-old Group 2 winner at Nad Al Sheba who then ran down the field in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
“I've had him in my stable for two and a half months and I think he will need the run,” said Royer-Dupre.
Pascal Bary will field the Niarchos Family's Holocene who ran on well to take second place behind Manduro in the Jacquesle Marois after a break of three months.
The Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper said on Wednesday: “The colt has thrived since his second in the Marois and we are expecting him to run well on Sunday.”
Turtle Bowl was a close third to Ramonti in the Queen Anne, in which George Washington was a fast-finishing fourth, and he takes up the challenge again.
The five-year-old was third in the Marois but did have a foot problem just before the race.
His trainer Francois Rohaut said on Wednesday: “He has recovered well from the race and his feet are better. The horse is in great shape and I hope there is no rain before the race.”
The Italian colt Golden Titus won the Prix Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas) and was then third behind Lawman inthe Jean Prat.
The going at Longchamp on Wednesday was 3.5 or soft but drying and there is no rain forecast until Sunday.
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