Longchamp, Leopardstown stage classic trials

On a day of informative classic trials, the European flat season bursts into

life Sunday with Longchamp's Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3), the showcase for fillies

with pretensions to glory in the upcoming Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1).

As usual, the Aga Khan's silks promise to play a prominent role via the

unbeaten Vedouma (Dalakhani), successful by six lengths in the Prix Isonomy over

a mile on testing ground at Chantilly in November.

She is one of a clutch of exciting prospects along with Khalid Abdullah's

Mexican Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), an Andre Fabre trainee who had another of the Aga

Khan's nicer fillies, the impressive subsequent scorer Sayana (Galileo), back in

second in a decent 7 1/2-furlong debutantes' contest at Deauville in October.

Mexican Gold is to be partnered by last year's Grand Steeple Chase de Paris hero

and champion NH jockey Vincent Cheminaud, who gets the leg up from Fabre for the

first time.

Another unknown quantity is Haras de Saint Pair's recent Saint-Cloud

conditions scorer Pearly Steph (Oasis Dream), while proven pattern-race form is

brought to the table by Cocheese Bloodstock's Prix des Reservoirs (Fr-G3) winner

Moonee Valley (Aqlaam).

One shy of the record of nine successes set by Etienne Pollet in Sunday's

Prix de Fontainebleau (Fr-G3) at Longchamp, Fabre fields a solid contender in

Godolphin's Territories (Invincible Spirit) as he seeks to share the mantle of

that former luminary.

Third, before being promoted to second, in a controversial stewards' renewal

of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) over seven furlongs here on Arc day, the

bay is the clear form pick on that evidence as he is prepared for a tilt at the

Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-G1) next month.

Of the potential improvers in the line-up, Al Shaqab Racing's Karar

(Invincible Spirit) showed a glimpse of star quality when taking his debut

outing by six lengths over a mile at Saint-Cloud March 19, while there could be

a substantial amount to come from Prime Equestrian's unbeaten The Comissioner

(Sea the Stars). He took a 9 1/2-furlong conditions race in the style of a smart

prospect on Deauville's Polytrack March 5.

Ireland

Leopardstown stages the first Irish Derby (Ire-G1) trial of 2015 Sunday, with

the often-informative Ballysax S. (Ire-G3) dominated by the presence of the

heavily vaunted current Epsom ante-post favorite John F Kennedy (Galileo).

Earning "TDN Rising Star" status when opening his account in authoritative

fashion over a mile at the Curragh in August, the handsome bay duly followed up

in this track's Juvenile Turf S. (Ire-G3) on Irish Champions weekend which had

played host to Australia 12 months previously.

On the face of it, there would be an element of surprise if either Zafilani (Azamour)

or Success Days (Jeremy) can upstage the central player, with both needing to

find improvement on their third and fifth placings respectively behind

Godolphin's Parish Boy (New Approach) in the nine-furlong Eyrefield S. here in

October. The latter has the benefit of an outing under his belt this term,

having taken a Cork conditions event over an extended mile trip eight days ago.

Currently on the fringes of the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) picture,

Qualify (Fastnet Rock) could be set to enter the fray as she limbers up for the

Newmarket classic in Sunday's Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial S.

(Ire-G3). Impressive when successful in the C.L. & M.F. Weld Park S. (Ire-G3)

over this seven-furlong trip at the Curragh in September, she met significant

trouble in running when only eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

(G1) at Santa Anita at the end of October.

Also from Ballydoyle is Toogoodtobetrue (Oasis Dream), who was last seen

finishing third when Qualify was fifth in the Debutante S. (Ire-G2) over this

trip at the Curragh in August.

One from left field is Military Angel (Big Brown), who beat Devonshire (Fast

Company) in a seven-furlong Roscommon maiden on her only start in September.

"She has wintered well and I'm very happy with her," said trainer Michael

O'Callaghan. "She won well from an impossible draw and was going away at the

end. She's not flash at home, which is the way you like them and this is a

stepping stone. We'll know after Sunday where to go and hopefully there will be

something to build on."

Also on the card, the Leopardstown Two Thousand Guineas Trial looks

potentially better than its current listed status, with a brace of unexposed

Newmarket Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) possibles putting their credentials on

the line in Endless Drama (Lope de Vega) and Zawraq (Shamardal). The former

looked every inch the top-class colt that trainer Ger Lyons has been waiting for

when scoring by  5 1/2 lengths on his sole start over six furlongs at Naas

in October and is bred to stay this extra distance. Zawraq accounted for

Ballydoyle's highly regarded Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo) on his only outing over

seven furlongs at this track in the same month and is certain to appreciate this

mile.

Godolphin's Parish Boy has already had the form of his success in this

venue's nine-furlong Eyrefield S. franked this term and sports a hood for the

first time, while Ryan Moore enjoys his first high-profile ride for Ballydoyle

since his formal link was made known on Jamaica (Galileo). Only fourth when last

seen in the seven-furlong Acomb S. (Eng-G3) at York in August, he is another for

whom stamina will be no issue.

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