3 minute read
Silvestre de Sousa believes his ride Charyn has all the qualities to defeat Notable Speech and co when he tackles the Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday.
The Roger Varian-trained grey hasn't looked back since finishing runner-up in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury earlier in the season, winning the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot prior to demolishing his rivals in scintillating fashion in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last month.
A return to France for a clash of the generations awaits and although this will surely represent his stiffest task of the campaign to date, his regular rider this season Silvestre de Sousa remains confident he will prove up to the challenge.
"He's in good form and everyone has been very happy with him in the yard, so I think the preparation for the race has gone very well," the jockey told Sky Sports Racing. He does please us at home, he's very laid-back but when we ask for an effort on the gallops, he always gives 100 per cent – he's a very genuine horse."
"He's in a good place this year and everything has gone smoothly.
"He has been improving all the time and obviously, he's been dominating his races. I haven't had to get to the bottom of him in every race he runs, so we hope for more improvement and he's very well."
Charyn is an 11/8 chance to complete his Group 1 hat-trick in France on Sunday, but closely behind him in the betting lies Charlie Appleby's sensational 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech and Aidan O'Brien's Henry Longfellow. The former put on one of the performances of the season when quickening up in electric style to land the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, while the latter will be looking to bounce back from his disappointing showing in the same contest.
However, despite the fresh competition, De Sousa believes his mount has exactly what it takes to continue his top-level winning run at Longchamp this weekend.
He added: "He's a very easy horse to deal with and he can go in any kind of ground you ask him. It looks like it will be genuine ground, but if it is on the soft side, it doesn't matter to him.
"It will be a tough race, none of them are easy at this level, but I'm sure we'll turn up to play and in good form. I have no doubts about the track, he'll cope with it, no problem.
"It's what every jockey wishes for, to bump into a nice horse, it's what helps you to get up in the morning.
"There are some tough rivals and multiple Group 1 winners, but I hope we can put on a nice show."