3 minute read

Preview: Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

The Prix du Moulin is a Group One thoroughbred race for horses aged three years or older, over 1600m at Longchamp. First run in 1957, the event has been staged at the Parisienne venue since 1987. They have raced on the first Sunday in September since 1980 with a view to realigning the European mile division. The aim was to avoid a clash between the Group One contests of the Sussex Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (all over 1600m). We look at this season's line-up...

Lope Y Fernandez   

Winner of a Listed event on seasonal reappearance, the Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old has contested four consecutive Group One events, including a well-held seventh dropping to 1300m in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month. This extra distance is likely to help but needs to find something to reach the placings.   

Victor Ludorum   

A talented performer under the tutelage of André Fabre. Finding it hard to scale the heights at the top table since winning last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m) with the Shamardal colt finishing downfield in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m), nearly eight lengths behind the reopposing Poetic Flare. This looks a tough assignment.   

Order Of Australia 

Last season's shock G1 Breeders' Cup Mile (1600m) winner arrives after arguably a career-best performance. The Aidan O'Brien contender is likely first string and ran a good third in the Prix Jacques le Marois after setting a strong pace throughout. He thrives on a fast surface and could play a pivotal pace angle to the contest, with the chance of sneaking a place.   

Baaeed  

The William Haggas-trained Baaeed has swept all before him in four unbeaten starts, including an easy victory in the G3 Throughbred Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood in July. The son of Sea The Stars had already shown Group One potential prior to that effortless success, with an abundance of scope for progress. This is his toughest test to date, taking on proven Group One winners, but the manner of his victories indicates he rates a leading candidate on his first attempt at this level. He is the style angle versus the substance already showcased by his rivals, which should offer a fascinating conclusion to this epic encounter. 

Novemba  

Novemba was a Group Two winner in Germany earlier in the campaign. The Gleneagles filly was a fine fourth in the G1 Coronation Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot subsequently but has ground to make up with both Snow Lantern (second) and Coeursamba, who ran sixth in the G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) in August, when Novemba was a well-beaten eleventh.   

Snow Lantern   

The G1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m) heroine Snow Lantern bids to give Richard Hannon a first win in the race. The daughter of Frankel brings strong form to the event, finishing ahead of a trio of subsequent Group 1 winners in the Newmarket showpiece including Mother Earth who subsequently won the Prix Rothschild, Alcohol Free scored in the G1 Sussex Stakes (1600m) and Lady Bowthorpe was successful in the G1 Prix Nassau (2000m). This track should suit her better than at Goodwood, when a luckless third in the aforementioned Sussex Stakes and she rates a major contender with her three-year-old fillies weight allowance.   

Coeursamba   

Coeursamba was a determined winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) at this track prior to a pair of held efforts in subsequent Group One races. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained three-year-old filly ran better than her finishing position of sixth suggests in the Prix Rothschild, when denied a clear run at a crucial point of the race. She can't be ruled out for a placing with her age and sex weight allowance.