Sulamani to have pacemaker for Niel clash with Chaparral
Trainer Pascal Bary has confirmed that he is prepared to let Volantis make the running to help the cause of Sulamani in the Prix Niel.
‘‘Sulamani worked well last Tuesday and he pleased me a lot. He doesn’t need a lot of work to reach a good level,’’ Bary said yesterday.
High Chaparral and Sulamani, who dominate the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe betting at 5-2 and 3-1 respectively, are among 11 acceptors for the Group Two contest.
The race is one of three recognised Arc trials on the card together with the Prix Vermeille and the Prix Foy.
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of High Chaparral - successful at Epsom and the Curragh - has left in six.
His other five entries are Ballingarry, Black Sam Bellamy, Castle Gandolfo, Sholokhov and Sorcerous.
The Andre Fabre-trained duo Morozov and Gulf News and Richard Hannon’s Nysaean complete the list.
Elie Lellouche’s Aquarelliste, runner up to Sakhee in the Arc last year, is one of 10 acceptors left in the Prix Foy.
The Group Two heat could be a cosmopolitan affair as it is expected to be contested by the Japanese and Italian stars, Manhattan Cafe and Falbrav.
Carnival Dancer, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and Clive Brittain’s Warrsan are the British acceptors.
Anabaa Blue, last season’s French Derby winner is on course for the Prix Foy.
Trainer, Carlos Lerner, said: ‘‘Anabaa Blue is a straight forward horse to get ready and everything is fine with him.’’
The Group One Prix Vermeille has a field of 15, including the French Oaks one-two-three, Bright Sky, Dance Routine and Ana Marie, plus the emerging Pearly Shells. The race remains an option for Albanova (Sir Mark Prescott), Lady’s Secret (Barry Hills), Sulk (John Gosden) and Irresistible Jewel (Dermot Weld).
Foss Way, Gosden’s Solario Stakes winner, may attempt to defy a penalty in the Group Three Prix la Rochette over seven furlongs on the same card.
The ground has dried up slightly overnight to 3.3 (good to soft) on the penetrometer scale, as opposed to the 3.4 reading 24 hours earlier.
Meanwhile Bollin Eeric is reported ‘‘in great form’’ ahead of his bid to become the first northern-trained winner of the St Leger since Peleid scored for Malton-based Bill Elsey in 1973.
His trainer Tim Easterby got this year’s St Leger Festival off to the perfect start by winning the first two races of the four-day meeting and he will be hoping his luck holds out with Bollin Eric in the Rothmans Royals-sponsored Classic on Saturday.
‘‘‘He’s eating tremendously well and is in great form - he’ll run well,’’ Easterby declared. But we want some rain and it does not look as if we are going to get it.’’
In an open race the north is also represented by ante-post favourite Bandari from Mark Johnston’s Middleham yard. Connections of March Stakes winner First Charter are also hoping the current fast conditions ease ahead of the St Leger. Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: ‘‘We would have just liked a bit of cut in the ground because I think he would go through it. I thought he won very comfortably at Goodwood without having much of a hard race and I don‘t see why he shouldn’t improve again.’’
Aidan O’Brien, who has Sholokov, Ballingarry and Black Sam Bellamy in the Leger, will leave a decision on running plans until today. ‘‘I‘m not in a position to decide - until I get the latest run of tests - to say exactly what’s running where,’’ he said.
