Camille Pissarro and Croix Du Nord headline star simulcast cast in France and Japan
Aidan O'Brien heads into Sunday's Group One Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (2,000m) double-handed as he bids to win the race for just the second time in his career at Chantilly on Sunday.
The master of Ballydoyle first landed the French Derby with St Mark's Basilica and Camille Pissarro looks to have a brilliant chance of doubling his tally in the third French Classic of the season.
The Wootton Bassett galloper won the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1,400m) at Longchamp in October and posted a career-best performance to finish third in the Group One Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1,600m) on his second run of this campaign.
He was abandoned by Ryan Moore that day, but the top-class rider will reunite with him on this occasion and from the box-seat draw in barrier one, Camille Pissarro is set to go off favourite.
Henri Matisse takes the Poule d'Essai des Poulains!🏆 pic.twitter.com/1kMw0I4Z7N — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 11, 2025
'Christophe [Soumillon] rode him last time and the minute he came in he said that this should be his next race,' O'Brien said. 'As a two-year-old, we weren't sure that he would even get seven furlongs.
'But he obviously won on Arc Day with Christophe and he felt the French Derby was made for him.'
O'Brien also runs the Listed Epsom Blue Riband Trial (2,000m) second Trinity College, who will be ridden by Wayne Lordan.
French hopes are led by Mikel Delzangles-trained Ridari, who won the Group Three Prix de Fontainebleau (1,600m) on reappearance before finishing fifth and two places behind Camille Pissarro in the French 2,000 Guineas.
The outsider of the party Sea Scout, ridden by Harry Davies and trained by @gainsboroughHQ, continues his upward curve, holding on to victory in the Listed @Betfred Blue Riband Trial from the fast-finishing Trinity College 👏 pic.twitter.com/RzFCYIKrwU — Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) April 22, 2025
Late interference likely cost the son of Churchill fourth and on just his second start at the 2,000m trip, Delzangles will be hoping he can show improved form.
The British challenge is led by Detain, who also ran in the French 2,000 Guineas, finishing a length off Ridari after lashing home from off the pace.
He beat fellow British raider Luther on reappearance, but that rival reversed form and finished fourth in the aforementioned French 2,000 Guineas.
The Jockey Club is simulcasting five races from Chantilly, while seven races will be offered for betting from Tokyo Racecourse, which stages the Group One Tokyo Yushun (2,400m).
G1 2yo 2000m Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama:
Won by 2c 6. CROIX DU NORD (Kitasan Black x Rising Cross 🇬🇧 (Cape Cross)) under Yuichi Kitamura
2.00.5
CROIX DU NORD now 3 for 3, an emerging superstar, same career rotation as CONTRAIL to date.
KITASAN BLACK!pic.twitter.com/wBeuPW420J — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) December 28, 2024
The headline act is Croix Du Nord, who won the Group One Hopeful Stakes (2,000m) last year and was named Japan Racing Association's Best Two-Year-Old Colt for 2024.
He lost his unbeaten record in the Group One Satsuki Sho (2,000m), but trainer Takashi Saito is confident we will see a different horse this time around.
'It was a difficult schedule getting him ready for the Satsuki Sho,' said Saito. 'With a sharpener this time, it's made things easier. He's moving well and his responses seem to be a level, or even two levels, above what they were before.
'Compared to the Satsuki Sho, he is in much better shape, both mentally and physically.'
UPSET IN NAKAYAMA 🎌
MUSEUM MILE ミュージアムマイル hands star three-year-old CROIX DU NORD クロワデュノール his first loss to claim the G1 Satsuki Sho ✅
What a season Joao Moreira is having in Japan! 🇧🇷#ミュージアムマイル #クロワデュノール #競馬
pic.twitter.com/MbYLs0JjxN — World Horse Racing (@WHR) April 20, 2025
He will reoppose the Satsuki Sho winner Museum Mile, but his trainer Daisuke Takayanagi was far less bullish on the chances of him holding that form.
'He definitely looks close to the condition he was in last time but, this time, he's holding back a bit,' said Takayanagi.
'Courage is what we need. As the Satsuki Sho winner, I think I can say he's heading into the Derby in a condition that will leave no room for embarrassment.'
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