Mogul seeks to follow in footsteps of last two Arc winners in Prix Ganay

3.15 Longchamp
Prix Ganay (Group 1) | 1m2½f | 4yo+ | SSR

In Mogul we have potentially one of the best middle-distance horses in Europe – and indeed beyond judged by his Longines Hong Kong Vase display – albeit a colt that took an enormous amount of getting fit as a three-year-old.

The question for those considering whether or not to take the inevitably short odds about a dual Group 1 winner lining up against six rivals yet to strike at the highest level, is how much of that was down to the strange nature of the 2020 season.

Once again Mogul looked short of peak fitness when finishing seventh behind Mishriff and a pair of crack Japanese mares in the Dubai Sheema Classic, a race for which his trainer Aidan O'Brien has rarely had his contenders fully wound up.

The drop to an extended ten furlongs should not be a problem, as O'Brien was tempted to do so last autumn until the son of Galileo blew away his rivals over a mile and a half in Longchamp's Grand Prix de Paris.

He may have matured into a leaner racing machine at four, in which case Christophe Soumillon should enjoy an armchair ride.

That is not to say the opposition lacks quality. Magny Cours looked a horse of Group 1 potential last year before his season was cut short and performed with credit for his dirt debut in the Dubai World Cup.

This is his trip and Mogul will need to have taken the anticipated step forward to put it up to an in-form rival.

Magny Cours (left, white cap) will try for a first Group 1 success in the Prix Ganay on SundayCredit: David Davies (Getty Images)

Stablemate Mare Australis has improved with each run and if there is an Arc contender other than Mogul in the lineup – the last two winners of Europe's greatest prize ran in this race – he could be it.

With Skalleti missing the race owing to the lack of rain it is hard to be over enthusiastic about the beaten horses from the Prix d'Harcourt other than Mare Australis, though Monty might not have to fight too hard for the lead and may at least confirm places with the two horses that finished behind him three weeks ago.

If there is to be a challenge to Mogul and Magny Cours from the depths of the market then by far the most intriguing runner is Wonderful Moon, who looked a potential superstar in Germany last spring before finding a mile and a half beyond him in the Deutsches Derby.

He will be much more effective over this distance, though it remains to be seen whether he can be at his best on good ground.

What they say

Jerome Reynier, trainer of Monty
I didn't expect him to make such enormous physical and mental progress when he arrived in January. In the Prix d'Harcourt he went for home very early and was still fighting for the win until the last 100 metres. I think it will be difficult for us to reverse the form with Mare Australis, but he loves to bowl along in front and could run into a place.

Fabrice Chappet, trainer of Gold Trip
He was a little underwhelming on his comeback which he certainly needed. I was happy with him before the Harcourt but maybe on that ground he needed it a bit more. He seems well and he goes on all ground barring extremes.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Mare Australis and Magny Cours
Magny Cours been in good order since Dubai and I'm very pleased with him. He's a good horse with a good rating and should run really well. Mare Australis probably needs further and is more of a mile and a half horse but on the main track and over an extra 100 yards, he should do well. Neither of them will mind the good ground.

Wonderful Moon (right) was found to be suffering from an infection after a disappointing comeback run at CologneCredit: Marc Ruehl (marcruehl.com)

Henk Grewe, trainer of Wonderful Moon
His blood count was not 100 per cent after his comeback at Cologne so that run can be excused. If there was any rain about that would help. We'll change tactics here a bit, drop him in and let him cruise. I'll be really happy if he finishes in the first three. He's a totally uncomplicated horse and Cristian Demuro will ride him to get placed.

Carlos Laffon-Parias, trainer of Ecrivain
He ran to form last time but I still think his best form is over a shorter trip. This trip is the absolute limit for him and he'll be ridden for a place.

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