Newly upgraded Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier attracts top-class field - including British stayer with good course record

The first running of the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier as a Group 1 has attracted a field worthy of the title, with many of the best stayers around heading to Longchamp to avoid the division's dominant force in Kyprios.

Sevenna's Knight emerged as one of the two best horses in France at two miles in the first half of last season before mixing it with the elite over a mile and a half, and he runs here in favour of the Grand Prix de Chantilly next week. 

His main rival for the title of France's leading stayer is Double Major, his conqueror in the Prix Royal-Oak just three weeks after Sevenna's Knight produced a career-best effort when fifth in the Arc. 

Double Major arguably ran right up to form when chasing home a rampant Dubai Future at Meydan last month, a result which put Saeed bin Suroor back in the limelight.

At the age of nine, Dubai Future remains both lightly raced and also unexposed at staying trips, and he like Sevenna's Knight might just have that twinkle of class lacking in most horses that are campaigned at these kinds of trips. 

Dubai Future leads home Double Major in the Gold Cup at MeydanCredit: Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King

Trueshan has a fabulous course record of two wins and a second and should not be underestimated, though the ground could be quicker than his optimum. 

Three young stayers who fought out the finish of the Prix de Barbeville look to make the step up; Presage Nocturne got the better of Internaute in a tight finish on that occasion, while third-placed Candelari retains plenty of upside having suffered his first defeat, and will not lack from assistance in the saddle as Clement Lecoeuvre steps in for the suspended Mickael Barzalona.

What They Say

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, owner of Candelari
He got a bit far back in the Barbeville and didn't quite follow the pace. They picked it up in the false straight and he was caught a little bit unawares. Considering how much ground he gave away and the fact that it was on the [tighter] Moyenne Piste, he finished the race very well. We were happy enough and conscious of the fact he took a while to warm up that day and he'll need to take closer order. We'll find out whether he's up to Group 1 standard.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Dubai Future and Passion And Glory
Dubai Future worked well earlier in the week and heads to France in good form, although we wouldn’t want the ground to turn soft at Longchamp. Staying races suit his style of running and he did very well out in Dubai over the winter. He's looking good and ready to get his European season started. Passion And Glory likes softer ground, so any rain wouldn’t be a problem for him. He has run well on his last couple of starts in Dubai and has been going nicely at home.

Sevenna's Knight and Mickael Barzalona return after winning last season's Prix Vicomtesse VigierCredit: Racing Post/Burton

Andre Fabre, trainer of Sevenna's Knight
He's going for this and if we're pleased with his race in Longchamp, he'll go for the Ascot Gold Cup afterwards.

Alessandro Botti, trainer of Presage Nocturne
It's a good field and it was obvious from the first forfeits that all the best entries were going to run. But we have every right to be there, having shown up well against several of these. The one thing in our favour is that there should be a decent pace on and my horse likes to be held up so that should serve him well.

Alan King, trainer of Trueshan
I hope he'll run very well. He's been ready to run for a few weeks but obviously, with the weather we've had, I couldn't go to the Sagaro. He's had a couple of away days, he's been to Lambourn. He'll be pretty fit, I would have thought. He doesn't have to have soft ground, he just doesn't want fast ground, and I'm hoping it's not going to be that.

Double Major (Maxime Guyon, left) wins the Prix ChaudenayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to Wertheimer and Frere, owners of Double Major and Internaute
Double Major ran a super race in Dubai behind an impressive winner. He's extremely consistent and always gives his best and we’ll see if he can take his revenge over Dubai Future. Internaute took a long time to get over having a hard race in the Grand Prix de Paris, but we’ve always thought plenty of him and he made a decent comeback. The race the other day [Prix de Barbeville] was a strange one and it’s never ideal to prepare for a Group 1 on the Moyenne Piste. He has never won at Group level and, while there is a tiny doubt over his stamina, I think it was the way the race unfolded rather than the trip that beat him last time.

Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Rouge Sellier
She ran very well at Galway from a poor draw in 15. She's perfectly entitled to run here, although I suspect she may find one or two too good. She'll like the trip and ground.

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