Cloud in form of her life
After making a successful return to action in a Group 3 over course and distance in early July, the five-year-old twice lit up Deauville in August when she landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs and the Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile on successive Sundays.
She tackles the intermediate distance of seven furlongs on Arc day and although Head respects last year’s winner Gordon Lord Byron, trained by Tom Hogan, the French handler is in bullish mood.
He said: “She is very well, I don’t think she could be better. She is the same as she was in August.
“The draw (stall seven) is fine. That should not be a problem and I am not nervous at all because I know the filly is in top form.
“Gordon Lord Byron is the one to beat after winning the race last year, but I think Moonlight Cloud will be very hard to beat.
“She loves the track – it’s a special track, the seven-furlong one at Longchamp. It goes downhill so she can lob along and finish with that tremendous turn of foot she has.
“I think seven is the right distance for her. A mile is just the end of it and six is a bit sharp, especially at Ascot.
“She’s lost a bit of speed – I wouldn’t like to run her over six again.”
The Chantilly-based trainer is doubly represented in the Foret after having supplemented Anodin, last seen finishing third in the Prix du Moulin.
Head said: “We supplemented him because the owners were keen for him to run and you never know what might happen.
“The horse is very well, I am looking forward to seeing him over seven furlongs. He ran well over a mile in the Moulin and I think he has improved.
“He stays in training next year, which I am happy about as I think he will make a very nice four-year-old.”
Gordon Lord Byron returns to Paris off the back of a sensational display in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Hogan feels he may be in even better form now.
“Everything is good with the horse, he’s travelled over well and the going should be just on the easy side of good come Sunday, which is perfect,” said the County Tipperary trainer.
“We’re drawn in stall six, right alongside Moonlight Cloud, so that’s good and everything looks good for him.
“Hopefully there is enough pace in the race. We’ll have to see what happens on that score, but the horse is in great shape.
“I’m almost afraid to say it, but I think he’s better now than he was going to Haydock. He’s in a really good place.
“Moonlight Cloud is an exceptionally good filly, but we ran the last furlong in the Prix Maurice de Gheest quicker than she did.
“I can’t say I’m confident, but I’m hopeful we can beat her. On his Haydock form I think he has a good chance of doing it.”
Gordon Lord Byron is joined on the trip from Ireland by Eddie Lynam’s talented filly Viztoria, who showed her class with victory in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last month.
Lynam said: “She’s in great form – she’s fresh and well and will handle the ground – but we’re under no illusions it’s a tough ask for her.
“She’s taking on the queen of Europe (Moonlight Cloud) and there are plenty of other good horses in the race as well, but she deserves a crack at it.
“We’re not afraid to lose.”
The Richard Fahey-trained Garswood and Chris Wall's outsider, Intense Pink, make up the British challenge.
Garswood looked a potential top-class performer when winning the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but then lost all chance in the Sprint Cup by missing the break.
Fahey said: “He should have his ground, but I’ve seen every going description under the sun from over there so who knows what it will be like.
“The filly (Moonlight Cloud) will take a lot of beating, I’m under no illusions about that, as she’s a wonderful horse.
“But I like Garswood a lot, I always have, and he’s improving all the time with racing.
“I’m very happy with him.”
