Stephane Wattel hoping City Light can dazzle and give him first Group 1 in Foret

Qatar Prix de la Foret (Group 1) | 7f | 3yo+ | Sky

French trainer Stephane Wattel could bring down the house by landing his first Group 1 success in the final Pattern race of his country's biggest weekend of the year.

Wattel, who has had a licence for more than 30 years, came desperately close to breaking his duck last year at Royal Ascot, where his City Light was beaten just a short head by Merchant Navy in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

His sprinter has thrived for a recent step back up in trip and looks to have every chance of grabbing that elusive top-level success.

"Everything has gone well in the three weeks since the Prix du Pin," Wattel said.

"The main opposition comes from the British horses and, while the way he won last time gives me a lot of hope, we’re up against much better horses here. Soft ground won’t bother him at all."

A lot of fun with 7f specialist

David Elsworth has not had a good Flat season as his tally of winners is yet to reach double figures, but he has done splendidly with Sir Dancealot.

"This has been the plan since he won under a penalty at Doncaster last time," Elsworth said.

"He ran fifth in it from a bad draw on chewed up ground a year ago and it doesn't look any stronger this year. He's in good form and we are as optimistic as you can be in these races."

Journey back through time

Glorious Journey will roll back the years if he makes a winning Group 1 debut for Charlie Appleby on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohammed's maroon and white colours were previously carried to success but largely disappeared after Godolphin's launch.

Now they are back and belong instead to the leading owner's daughter Sheikha Al Jalila, in whose name Glorious Journey runs.

Appleby said: "Glorious Journey comes into this race on the back of a pleasing win in the Hungerford Stakes. The ground at Longchamp will suit and we feel that he can be competitive.

"He has twice won Group 3 races in France before and looks to be in a good place at the moment."

Glorious Journey and William Buick return to the Deauville winner's enclosure after the Group 3 Prix DaphnisCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Going concern for Hey Gaman

Ground conditions would be a concern for anyone tempted to back Hey Gaman, who has failed to sparkle on soft ground in the last two seasons and was only fifth in the Hungerford Stakes at a muddy Newbury in August.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sultan Ali, said: "He usually falls just short at Group 1 level, but hopefully he can run another nice race providing the ground isn't too soft."

French challenger ran 'Perfect trial'

What better way to double your tally of victories and end a nine-race losing run than by scoring a breakthrough Group 1 win?

That is not out of the question for Graignes, whose trainer Yann Barberot said: "It was the perfect trial and we finished as fast as the winner. He likes soft ground but the big problem is that we’ve drawn stall 12 and, even for a hold-up horse, the outside on the 1,400 metre course is not helpful at all."

He doesn't know her limits

Least exposed runner in the field is Wasmya, who has won the last three of her four starts and left her trainer admitting he does not know how good she could be.

"She is a filly who is making rapid progress and I don’t know where her limits lie," Francis Graffard said.

"This is the perfect trip for her and the timing of this race is good. We arrive here very humbly, but I couldn’t be happier with her condition and I am looking forward to running her."

Voyage of hope

Testing conditions will be no concern for Safe Voyage, who completed a soft-surface hat-trick when landing the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes on heavy ground at Haydock in June.

Trainer John Quinn said: "I'm very happy with him, he's in really good form and he won't mind the ground at all.

"He's had a very good year, he's run really well all season and seven furlongs and soft ground will be ideal."

Safe Voyage: 'in really good form and won't mind the ground'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

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