Race ID:3364.3514

Longchamp Marathon

Grade II

Two Miles

Firm Turf
$275,000

All horses, 3 years old and up

Welcome today in France on the last preparations before the big day in November. We have a racecard today with three big races and besides the prestigious Ark de Triumph we have a GII over two miles on the firm turf and it is already the seventh time this race has been organized.

PP        Age        Name                         Trainer          Odds            Pedigree

1          5M            VITAE                           catomine          11/1            Theatrical x Ela-Mana-Mou x Buckpasser

Record: 22 races: 9-3-4

For his five years this still is a lightly raced colt out of Theatrical and running for the stables of Pierchinski. He currently is ranked as 39^th in this division and seems to be in form lately as he won his last two races, both over 16 furlongs, and finished in the money in his last eight races. In terms of speed this colt is not a highflier: his highest speed in his career is a mere 94SP and this dates back from January 2006 so a long time ago. Today will mark only her seventh race this year and she might give a performance consistent with her past races.

2          3M            MOTOR CITY MADMAN    sdmfclaims        19/1            Fantastic Light x Vice Regent x Halo

Record: 11 races: 2-3-3

This 3y old offspring of Fantastic Light only has won two races before in his career and therefore might lack the experience to compete on this graded level against older horses. On the other hand he already ran a race of two miles against older horses and he finished second in that race in a field of ten beating several older horses. He only posted a 88SP in that race and was beaten with eight lengths. I believe this graded race is still a bit too soon for him. He comes off a lousy performance in his last race and since he races so soon again I don’t think that was because of an injury.

3          5M            ALPINE REEL              chelseydek       12/1            Pilsudski x Assert x Seattle Dancer

Record: 28 races: 10-1-6

Alpine Reel is a colt that looks to be equally as good on dirt as on turf as he won 5 races on both surfaces. He did win several allowances over two miles on the turf but never posted a speed over 90. He has been trained and placed very well by his trainer but the lack of a real topspeed might be what he is missing to be of importance in this race. He definitely will go for the lead early on, but how long will he hold it?

4          4M            TETE DEPARTURE       racelord            6/1            Diesis x Kayf Tara x Darshaan

Record: 28 races: 10-7-7

Here is a nice colt out of the stables of SWC Europeon captain Sabbath who recently expanded his empire with a couple of stables. He has been doing well finishing almost 50% of his races in the money and this Diesiscolt certainly has part in those numbers finishing 24 out of 28 races ITM. He did win 3 races on two miles before but those were in small field allowances. On Stakeslevel he finished second on two miles also three times in a row. He has been send to graded races before in his career but he never really managed to threathen the leader in those races and that is also what I doubt today. She prepared for this race with an allowancewin over 14 furlongs but since begin of this year she has not been able to win in a Stakes anymore and will have a difficult time today also.

5          4M            GALDOUNCAL          shamrandk       9/2            Galileo x Theatrical x Kaldoun

Record: 25 races: 5-7-3

The Shamranstables come to this race with a bred that can be nothing else but a turfer. This colt won his maiden in his second race but has been statusquo in terms of quality for quite some time while racing in allowances till earlier this year. He then was tried a bit further than his usual routingdistance and amazed with a 105SP over 12 furlongs. Since then has been running in Stakes and even Graded Stakes.  Only two weeks ago he joined the Sim World Cup but that resulted in a big disappointment: an eleventh place. I’m not too sure about today’s distance since he never ran two miles before and he is a frontrunner. It might be too long for him.

6          4M            TOTAL CHAOS         benttree           2/1            Rahy x Caro x Prince John

Record: 16 races: 6-6-1

What a record this 4y old colt out of Rahy has. Since his third race he never finished off the board and he really seems to be improving with age so what a nice future he has in front of him. He won his maiden in his fourth race and was then entered in four allowances. He won two of them and was then stepped up to three Stakes of which he also won two. He has been running in graded races since this year and actually won his first G1 on this very same track and in the very same distance. So this colt must definitely be pleased to can start again her in Longchamp. He currently is ranked seventh in his division and I’m sure he will improve that ranking further.

7          5M            CAM’S FORBIDDEN I   scooterd45       17/1            Yokohama x Little Current x Secretariat

Record: 29 races: 4-2-1

This colt was bred out of a nonowner mare and with obscure sire Yokohama.  He did win a Stakesrace for his owner over two miles on dirt.  His best speed on the marathonraces on turf is a mere 90 and this looks to be too low to play a role in this race. Should step back in class to be able to win.

8          3M            EL KURSAAL           layequada         7/1            Unbridled’s Song x AP Indy x Night Shift

Record: 19 races: 2-4-7

With odds of 7/1 the bookies consider this three year old colt as an outsider in this race. He is the second three year old in this race and definitely looks better than the horse in post 2. However he only won 2 of his nineteen races so far, which looks a bit low. He won his maiden and a cpu restricted allowance. Since then he was entered in Stakes and even in Graded races and his speeds definitely have been improved. His best place is a second place over 11f but in his last race he did manage to run a good race over 16 furlongs closing in on the leader and finishing third at 2 lengths. He has not been tested to older colts before so he might need to get familiar with this competition. I see him finishing around a fourth place.

9          4M            PINFIRE               vermacht         27/1            Grindstone x Dodge x El Gran Senor

Record: 23 races: 5-5-4

Pinfire has been claimed by his current owner in July and has the lowest odds in this race. Rightfully since he seems not to be of Stakescaliber. He did win a claimer before on this distance and finished second last time on this distance, but a claimer can hardly be compared with a Graded Race. I hope he won’t get lost today.

10         6M            RAINBOW MOONSHELL   cleverdoc         7/2            Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells x Kris

Record: 59 races: 19-16-8