Grand Prix de Paris: 'St Leger is his long term target' - quotes and analysis

Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1) | 3yo colts and fillies | 1m4f [Grande Piste] | Sky

The Grand Prix de Paris, featuring six colts who are covered by just 3lb on official ratings and represent the form of Europe’s three major Derbys, provides an evening treat well worth tuning in for.

While the sextet who contested the Coral-Eclipse at the start of the month left us wondering beforehand who might inject sufficient pace into the contest, there are several candidates for the role here.

El Bodegon has plenty of form in the book as a pacesetter, snaring his first Group 1 in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud from the front, while Ioritz Mendizabal looked prepared to assume a share of that duty before Modern Games swept to the front in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Finishing runner-up to Vadeni at Chantilly entitles him to top billing by 1lb, and while he was beaten five lengths by the future Eclipse hero, he looks likely to appreciate the extra furlong and a half.

Piz Badile returned to more prominent tactics as well in the Irish Derby and while he was no match for winner Westover, he proved his stamina at a mile and a half when staying on well to be best of the rest.

One of two colts supplemented at the start of the week for €15,000, the Niarchos family representative would be a dangerous opponent for the other five if let loose on the front.

Also added late in the day was Simca Mille. Trainer Stephane Wattel had given a strong indication that this would be his next race the day he danced away from his rivals in the Group 3 Prix du Lys Longines.

Both Simca Mille and L'Astronome made the running last time out and Wattel might have been speaking for several sets of connections when he said: "He is so uncomplicated that you don't need to adopt any particular set of tactics."

L'Astronome was last seen making all in the Prix Hocquart over a furlong shy of this course and distance in May but none of the four candidates considered so far are devoid of finishing speed; rather any one of them could ensure a decent rhythm if nobody else goes on.

So it might be an error to naturally assume that the race will automatically set up for the remaining two, the unbeaten Royal Ascot hero Eldar Eldarov and Prix Greffulhe winner Onesto.

Eldar Eldarov and John Egan stretch for the line in the Queen's VaseCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Roger Varian stepped Eldar Eldarov up by half a mile from his win in a Newcastle novice to the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot over 1m6f and although he was at his strongest at the line – David Egan struggled to pull him up before the mile start down the back – he again was swift over the final two furlongs.

Onesto is the one with the most obvious turn of foot, having flown late in the Prix du Jockey Club from a compromising wide draw.

By Frankel out of a Sea The Stars mare he ought to have stamina for this task, though the fact he was able to clock a faster time than Vadeni from the two marker to the furlong pole suggests speed rather than staying power is his real strong suit.

'It's been the biggest change in him since I've had him'

El Bodegon cemented his love affair with French racing with a series of excellent efforts in the autumn of his two-year-old season and it should not have come as any great surprise that, following a below-par comeback effort in the Dante, he roared back to form when chasing home Vadeni in the Prix du Jockey Club last month.

The son of Kodiac has been a real flagbearer for trainer James Ferguson, who believes he has progressed again since Chantilly.

Ferguson said: "I've been delighted. I think he's matured and it's certainly been the biggest change since I've had him. I think I'm sending him over in tip-top condition.

El Bodegon after winning the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last OctoberCredit: Scott Burton

"We're going there with form on our side, having been second in the French Derby and then Vadeni going on to win the Eclipse. It's a very competitive race, I don't think the mile and a half will be a problem. Ioritz [Mendizabal] is back on and knows the horse very well. I know they've watered plenty and hopefully they will continue to do so."

What they say

Francis Graffard, trainer of L'Astronome
He is in great form and I think he'll adore the 2,400 metres at Longchamp. There's not many runners but they are closely matched on ratings and I hope he can show himself up to Group 1 level. He is tactically versatile.

Fabrice Chappet, trainer of Onesto
His recovery has gone well and we've built him up gradually. He's never run over this trip and you never know but he stayed 2,100 metres well and his pedigree says he shouldn't have a problem. He likes good ground and for once we should get a truly run race.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos family, owners of Piz Badile
We've been very happy with him. Donnacha [O'Brien] has always said that Piz Badile is a horse that is still maturing and he is very happy with the way he came out of the Irish Derby. Hence why he's been supplemented to the Grand Prix. I think he's adaptable and Epsom is the only blip on his record. Hopefully he will keep maturing; this is the last Group 1 for three-year-olds only and we hope he has a chance to be very competitive. It looks a very level field with only 3lb between the six runners.

Stephane Wattel, trainer of Simca Mille
I always knew he would be a better horse with time and once he stepped up in trip but I could never have anticipated the level of improvement running over 2,400 metres has brought about. He has been transformed. He was impressive in the trial and he has plenty in his favour in that he loves good ground. The question mark is that he has never run against proven Group 1 rivals. I've no idea what he beat last time and thus his level of form. But it's a great race in that any of the six could win. He made the running last time but knowing we would have British and Irish opposition I worked him in behind horses and he was just as good.

Roger Varian, trainer of Eldar Eldarov
He had it to prove going into a competitive Vase lacking a bit of experience and I thought he came out of the race with great credit. He switched off and raced very professionally and still had a lot of ground to make up turning for home and he did it, albeit only just. He was strong in the straight and I should think he's entitled to improve again. He deserves a tilt at a Group 1 rather than carry a penalty in a lesser race and this is the last chance to do it at a mile and a half against his own age group. We like the St Leger as his long-term target this year and hopefully he can win here but, win, lose or draw, there's plenty of time for him to recover and most likely go straight there, knowing he gets the mile and six as he proved at Ascot.

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