Ghaiyyath set to warm up for Prix Ganay in Longchamp Group 2

The classy Ghaiyyath has had his winter holiday in Dubai cut short to return home to be prepared for a crack at the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp on April 7.

The former Derby hope missed most of his three-year-old campaign through injury but did return at the backend to land the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at the Paris track in September.

Despite a layoff of nearly a year, Ghaiyyath went clear in the straight to slam French colt Sacred Life by three lengths, with British-trained duo Chilean and Willie John in arrears.

Mentioned as a possible for Group 1 assignments such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes, Ghaiyyath instead joined Charlie Appleby's winter training camp at Al Marmoom Stables in Dubai.

The son of Dubawi has recently been transferred back to Appleby's Newmarket base at Moulton Paddocks, from where he enjoyed a leg stretch around Waterhall on Wednesday.

Appleby said: "Ghaiyyath looks fantastic and has done well over the winter out in Dubai.

"He did a couple of bits of work out there and will work again here at the weekend. He's a colt we've always liked but I didn't want to start him back in a Group 1 straight away – the Prix d'Harcourt looks a good starting point as it's usually run on soft ground, which he likes."

The Prix d'Harcourt is a recognised trial for the Group 1 Prix Ganay, which is staged back at Longchamp on April 28.

Appleby added: "The plan would be to use the d'Harcourt as a prep for the Prix Ganay, and hopefully Ghaiyyath will be a major player in both races."

The Prix Ganay was won 12 months ago by Cracksman, while the last colt to do the d'Harcourt-Ganay double was Cloth Of Stars in 2017.

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