French Preview: So Mi star?

Last year’s Prix Morny was won by Lady Aurelia, albeit in a slightly grittier style than her demolition job in the Queen Mary two months earlier. Sent off at 100/30-on, the Wesley Ward-trained filly set a strong gallop (despite taking plenty of restraining from Frankie Dettori over the extra 1f), and, after taking a couple of bad steps on false ground late on, beat the home challenger Alrahma by three quarters of a length, emulating her stablemate No Nay Never who won the race in 2013. There’s no American raider this year, however there is plenty of Royal Ascot form on offer.

Often these previews start with the British and Irish contenders, however the unbeaten Different League, trained by Matthieu Palussiere, has earned first dibs. She won her maiden at Lyon in May, followed up in a minor event at Angers later that month, and completed her hat-trick on the biggest stage possible when landing the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Ridden by Antoine Hamelin, the 20/1 chance had Alpha Centauri to contend with all the way on the far side, but a burst 2f out gave her the upper hand on the favourite, and she was very willing to the end; her sire Dabirsim, who won this race in 2011, came from similarly humble beginnings and rounded off an undefeated two-year-old season in the Jean-Luc Lagardere. Indeed, he is one of the few sires who finished his racing career with a Timeform ‘p’, having shown plenty in two starts as a three-year-old the following year.

Dabirsim’s trainer Christophe Ferland is the most recent Frenchman to have won the Morny, and he is represented this year by Dameron, though this looks a very stiff task considering he has only one runner-up finish in a maiden to his name. Tantheem has a more obvious chance. Her dam is from the family of Prix Jacques le Marois winner Tamayuz and Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue and Tantheem looks a smart performer in the making judging by her win in the Prix de Cabourg at Deauville (by three and a half lengths from Darkanna, making all and going further clear final 100 yards) last month. Like Different League, Zonza is unbeaten, having progressed with each start to date. She only had to be pushed out to land the 5f Prix du Bois last time, a Group 3 at this track, and she should improve further. The home challenge is completed by another daugher of Dabirsim, High Dream Milena. She was the sole French-trained runner in the field when fourth to Unfortunately in the Prix Robert Papin last month, and confirmed her debut promise, shaping better than the bare result. She would likely have gone quite close with a clear run, keeping on when denied a run 1f out before staying on well and finishing with running left, and she already looks well up to this grade. At the current odds of 12/1, she looks overpriced.

The aforementioned Robert Papin winner Unfortunately was much improved in a first-time visor when winning that 5.5f Group 2 at Maisons-Laffitte by half a length from Frozen Angel, but will run in first-time blinkers on Sunday. He is respected, along with stablemate Havana Grey who won listed races at Sandown in May and July, and followed up in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time by one and three quarter lengths from Invincible Army. He’s raced only at 5f to date and has a lot of tactical pace, so there may be some question marks over his stamina for this 1f longer trip. The field is (hopefully) completed by Nyalati. Her trainer Mark Johnston described her as “odds-on” to swerve this race in favour of Thursday’s Lowther Stakes at York, however this contest now looks the plan after a change of heart. Nyaleti was runner-up to September in the Chesham Stakes (7f) at Royal Ascot and filled the same position behind the fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained Clemmie in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket, but took a big step forward when winning the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last time impressively by five lengths from Dance Diva. She tops Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, though it might prove harder to dominate this field in such emphatic fashion.

Recommended bet: Back High Dream Milena each-way at 12/1 in the Prix Morny

Earlier on the card, the Prix Jean Romanet takes place, a Group 1 for fillies and mares which also features a handful of British-trained runners. The most interesting is Timeform top-rated So Mi Dar who looks set to swerve a couple of engagements at York – including the Yorkshire Oaks which her dam Dar Re Mi won in 2009 – in favour of this 1¼m contest. She won the Derby Trial at Epsom, Musidora Stakes at York and a listed race at Yarmouth (by half a length from Nezwaah) during an interrupted 2016 campaign, and, after 10 months off, wasn’t unduly punished once her chance had gone when fifth to Winter in the Nassau Stakes on heavy ground at Goodwood last time. The fellow four-year-old Ajman Princess has progressed this year, taking the step up from her maiden win in March in her stride when winning a listed race at Goodwood (by five lengths) in May. She produced another creditable effort when second over 1¼m at York last month, but needs to take another step forward to trouble the principals here. A similar comment applies to Wilamina, a useful filly trained by Martyn Meade who ran well in defeat at the Curragh last month. A more obvious contender is Smart Call who was prolific in South Africa and who has shaped with promise in two of her three starts since joining Sir Michael Stoute, but who needs to bounce back from a below-par effort in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time.

The leading French runner in the Romanet is Siyoushake. Formerly in the care of Jonathan Pease, she has won twice since joining Freddie Head in 2016 and produced her best effort to date back up in grade, albeit needing no excuses, when beaten a short neck and short head into third in the Prix Rothschild (won by Roly Poly) last time. The five-year-old hasn’t tried this 2f longer trip since her three-year-old days, though, and given how well she travelled last time, there must be some doubts over its suitability. Furia Cruzada, who has had a plethora of trainers over the past three seasons, was two and a half lengths further back in the Rotshchild, and has a bit to find, so a more pertinent threat could be Left Hand. She won a Group 3 over this C&D during the track’s excellent month of racing last season, and followed up in an admittedly weak renewal of the Prix Vermeille at Chantilly last September. She subsequently struggled in the Arc but has bounced back to form on her last two starts, both over 1½m, and won’t be inconvenienced by the drop back to this trip.

Recommended bet: Back So Mi Dar at 6/5 in the Prix Romanet