Mishriff and leading St Leger candidates given Grand Prix de Paris option

Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff was the star attraction among five horses who were added to the Grand Prix de Paris at a special second entry stage.

Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat and Dante winner Thunderous were entered for the 1m4f Group 1 which, as part of the fallout from the coronavirus suspension, will be run at Longchamp on Qatar Arc Trials day in place of the Prix Niel.

The Grand Prix could have a significant bearing on the St Leger, which is run 24 hours earlier and for which both horses are towards the upper reaches of the ante-post market.

Thunderous (left) gets up to win the Dante Stakes at York ahead of Highest GroundCredit: Dan Abraham/Pool via Getty Images

Khalifa Sat ranges in price from 10-1 to 14-1, while Thunderous, who lowered the colours of the well-regarded Highest Ground at York, trades at 16-1 for the Doncaster showpiece.

France Galop took the unusual step of offering a second chance to enter as initial entries for the race – traditionally run on July 14 – were made back in February.

Mishriff's addition to the race was widely anticipated since the Grand Prix is effectively a 'win and you're in' for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which would otherwise have required connections to stump up €72,000 in order to supplement.

Currently without a sponsor, the St Leger was run last year for a total of £700,000 but is likely to be substantially down on that in the current climate, while runners in the Longchamp race will be competing for €360,000 in line with the blanket 40 per cent cut in France's Group 1 prize-money allocation.

Derby Italiano winner Tuscan Gaze and the William Haggas-trained Roberto Escobarr were also added at the second entry stage.

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