Duhail heads eight contenders for the Prix Anabaa (1.20pm UK time) at Chantilly tomorrow, Tuesday, March 2, the final Fast-Track Qualifier staged in France during this season’s All-Weather Championships.
The winner of the extended six-furlong contest is guaranteed a start in the Betway All-Weather Sprint Championship at Lingfield Park on Finals Day, Good Friday, April 2.
Duhail (Andre Fabre/Vincent Cheminaud) returns from a break having signed off with a handicap success under joint top weight at Longchamp in late October. The five-year-old posted a decisive victory on his All-Weather debut at Deauville in August, a race in which 2020 Prix Anabaa victor We Go (Frederic Rossi/Pierre-Charles Boudot) was second.
Former Richard Hannon-trained runner Buridan (Aurelien Lemaitre) has made a promising start to his career in France for Eoghan O’Neill. Buridan was beaten a half-length by Marianafoot at Deauville in December before going one better in a conditions race at Chantilly on February 16.
O’Neill said today: “Buridan is coming into this in good shape and, for whatever reason, seems to be improving at six years of age.
“I have only had the horse since November and have been feeling my way. He ran a good race first time up and then won well the other day. This looks a suitable next step, although it is clearly a tougher race.
“We haven’t specifically been aiming at Finals Day but if he is good enough or lucky enough to win tomorrow, then he would certainly be worthy of going for the big meeting on Good Friday.”
Lightly raced four-year-old Botch (Christophe Ferland/Christophe Soumillon) has been off the track since going down narrowly to British raider Maystar in a Listed race on turf at Deauville in August.
A strong line up also includes Golden Boy (Stephane Wattel/Theo Bachelot), who was an eye-catching winner on the All-Weather at Deauville in November, and German challenger Coco City (Hella Sauer/Pierre Bazire).
Likely outsiders Louve Dream (Carina Fey/Eddy Hardouin) and House Of Kings (Anne-Sophie Crombez/Stephane Pasquier) complete the runners.
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