'We'll definitely go there' - Barberot keen on Newcastle foray for Fast Raaj

Chantilly: Tuesday

Fast Raaj already looked well named when winning the Prix Djebel last spring and subsequent events have shown that the seven furlongs of that Classic trial are as far as he needs to go.

Now trainer Yann Barberot will prepare him for a trip to Newcastle on Good Friday after he dominated the Prix Anabaa – a fast track qualifier for the All-Weather Championships – under Gregory Benoist.

Barberot said: "He likes the all-weather and he acts on any surface except when it gets very heavy. He really came back to form at the end of last year and it was a shame that by then there weren't really any races for him.

Fast Raaj and Benoist return to the Chantilly winner's enclosureCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"He enjoyed a good winter and was in good shape for his comeback run. We'll definitely go to Newcastle, that's the obvious race for him, even though it's a long way."

Fast Raaj had a length and a half to spare over Go Athletico with last season's Petit Couvert winner Berneuil back in fourth.

This card often serves as a trial for Dubai World Cup night and connections remain keen to head to the Al Quoz Sprint with Berneuil.

Co-trainer Yann Lerner said: "It's not straightforward giving him his first run of the year over 1,300 metres [six and a half furlongs] and he has only had one serious piece of work since last season's Prix de l'Abbaye.

"We have gone steady with him rather than really put the pressure on and this race will have done him a huge amount of good.

"That will have really blown the cobwebs away and he is much better over a straight track so hopefully we will get the invitation for Dubai. A flat and fast 1,000 metres [five furlongs] is his real game."

Baratti upholds family honour

There were no World Cup night entries but plenty of interesting horses with a view to the new season among the seven to face the starter in the Prix Darshaan and Baratti made a big impression in winning for Andre Fabre.

Bratti produced a fine turn of foot under Maxime Guyon to land the Prix DarshaanCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

The four-year-old is something akin to Juddmonte royalty, being a Frankel half-brother to Prince of Wales's Stakes hero Byword.

Having made a striking debut here last April, Baratti was off the track for four months but he still managed two more wins before the close of the campaign.

Baratti briefly looked outpaced in this drop back to 1m1½f before powering home under Maxime Guyon, a performance that could mark him out as one of the more interesting older horses in France this season.

Fort Payne continues Caullery run

Nicolas Caullery has enjoyed a profitable Dubai Carnival courtesy of dual winner Batwan and he was back in the number-one spot here when Fort Payne took the Prix Montjeu over a mile.

Trainer Nicolas Caullery (left) leads the celebrations after Fort Payne and Gregory Benoist land the Prix MontjeuCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Last season, Fort Payne progressed from the winter meeting at Cagnes-sur-Mer to line up in the Prix du Jockey Club.

A return to the Riviera ended in an underwhelming sixth place in January, but the son of Rio De La Plata stripped much fitter here and came home a length and three-quarters to the good of Salesman under another well-judged ride from Benoist.

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