Prix Niel: can the spring version of Bolshoi Ballet enter the autumn picture?
Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2) | 1m4f | 3yo | Sky
Aidan O'Brien and Frankie Dettori kick off a huge day for the pair at Longchamp with Bolshoi Ballet, the horse given sole responsibility for extending the Ballydoyle dominance in the Cazoo Derby in June.
Subsequent events may suggest that sending more troops into that battle may not have changed the outcome, but what can be said for certain is that Bolshoi Ballet lost any chance that day when being struck into early on.
Two runs in America have partly rehabilitated his season but in many ways the most important pointer to Bolshoi Ballet's prospects is his barnstorming effort in the Derrinstown Trial back in May – not least because his ability to gallop rivals into the ground means he is not a hostage to a false pace – though the application of cheekpieces will not be taken as a positive by everyone.
If the Grand Prix de Paris form is to be believed then the French three-year-old middle-distance colts are even more of an indifferent group than those behind Bolshoi Ballet in the pecking order at Ballydoyle.
If there is one capable of improving on that effort it may be Bubble Gift, while those with longer memories will find it inconceivable that Andre Fabre is responsible for the two market rags.
30-year Prix Niel record in the Arc
Ten winners (eight completed the double), five placed horses
What they say
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Bolshoi Ballet
He's been in good form since his last run at Saratoga. He can race a little bit lazily sometimes so we're just putting cheekpieces on him. It's his first run back at the Derby trip so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on.
Bernard Giraudon, owner of Pretty Tiger
We had been hoping for soft ground. He has always finished his races off well over 2,000 metres [a mile and a quarter] and we hope he will enjoy 2,400 metres.
Jean-Louis Bouchard, owner of Baby Rider
He got a bit far back in the Grand Prix de Paris but he finished best of the French and turned the tables on some horses that beat him in the Jockey Club. He will have to win well to book his passage for the Arc but he is in good form.
Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Bubble Gift
We were a bit disappointed with how things went in a very tactical Grand Prix de Paris. The best horse won but behind him I don't think we learnt a lot. He is ready to run a good comeback. The ground won't be any sort of excuse, albeit he is a horse that takes a little bit of time to pick up.
Andre Fabre, trainer of Media Stream and Timour
Media Stream will like the better ground. He is a nice horse with a beautiful action who has done well recently. He lacks a little for a change of pace but he's going to run well. Timour has a nice turn of foot and I hope he can catch a place.
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