A la recherche du temps perdus (reminder of the past).
We thought Diego Velazquez may have been put into this Prix Jacques le Marois race as a pacemaker.
Instead it was his stablemate The Lion in Winter who did most of the early running only to run out of gas at the end and Diego V, who had been purchased before the race by Sam Sangster in order to stand at the National Stud, did the Sangster colours proud. He could be heading to the Breeders' Cup Mile before starting his new career.
He just got in ahead of a flying Notable Speech and then a bit further back Dancing Gemini just got the nod to get third ahead of Docklands, who ran a much better race.
The Japanese runners Go To First at 36/1 was fifth and Ascoli Piceno sixth with Lemaire suggesting the slow pace had affected AP's chances.
Earlier in the afternoon Indalimos won the G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly on 22/5 with Consent second on another judicious entry by Sir Mark Prescott and Rabbit's Foot ran third.
Later in the day Daytona didn't fire in the François Boutin and the win went to Rayif 5/1 from Andab 7/1 however these are 2yos and we will wait for next year to see how they develop over the winter.
On Saturday First Look took the Gontaut-Biran without any problems as it looks like his recent surgery has focused his mind back on being a racehorse. Goliath did do better than his previous couple of runs and took second in a six horse race.
The upset of the day came in the Guillaume d'Ornano when the unheralded Japanese runner Alohi Alii showed a liking for Deauville even with a soft track and showed why he has an entry into the Arc, where his odds have subsequently been halved. Rashaber was second on 5/1 and Cualificar third.
