Opportunity knocks: no Bow Echo so Gstaad gets his chance to shine in big Moulin clash with Opera Ballo

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No Bow Echo, but the presence of the two colts who chased him home in the Sussex Stakes mean we have a fascinating Moulin. It's Coolmore v Godolphin again. It's Gstaad v Opera Ballo. 

Had there been no Bow Echo, Gstaad would be unbeaten this season with four Group 1s to his name but he has only the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He couldn't get by his rival in the Guineas at Newmarket or the St James's Palace Stakes and the Sussex. 

There is No Bow Echo this time, though, so there can be no excuses and Aidan O'Brien reports Gstaad to be raring to go following his near-miss at Goodwood with the injury that kept him out of the Prix Jacques le Marois fully cleared up. 

O'Brien said: "Gstaad is very good. He got a deep cut in the Sussex and had to go on stronger antibiotics than usual to clear it up. That kept him out of the race at Deauville, but it's cleared up well and he's back doing everything right. 

"We have had this race in mind since Goodwood and everything has gone well in the lead-up."

Gstaad has a remarkable CV. Last year's Breeders' Cup winner has never finished out of the first two in ten starts.

According to figures, he has improved with nearly every run and never regressed. His RPR of 124 in the Sussex was the best performance of his career and came on the back of a pair of 122s in the St James's Palace Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

O'Brien has two Moulin victories. Rock Of Gibraltar won it under Mick Kinane during his sensational season in 2002, while Circus Maximus also did the business for the Ballydoyle team in 2019, which was Ryan Moore's sole win in this Group 1.

'He's right up there with the best' - Opera ready to perform says Appleby 

There was a length and three-quarters between Gstaad and Opera Ballo at the line in the Sussex, but the Godolphin colt was keen at Goodwood and also had to give his younger Coolmore rival 8lb. 

This time he gives away 6lb and Charlie Appleby believes he is ready to produce a big performance. 

Opera Ballo and William Buick winning the Group 2 bet365 Mile at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The four-year-old has just one Group 1 success on his CV, the Jebel Hatta at Meydan in January, but he does have an RPR of 126 for beating Field Of Gold in the bet365 Mile at Sandown in April. 

Appleby said of Opera Ballo: "He heads to France in great order. He is better off at the weights with Gstaad compared with the Sussex Stakes, and this could potentially be another tactical race. He is right up with the best and we're hopeful he can be very competitive again.”

Appleby has never won the Moulin, but in Opera Ballo he has a colt capable of breaking his duck. 

What they say

Stephane Wattel, trainer of Dreamliner
We've tried to avoid quick ground for him over the summer and it's been a difficult year for horses that prefer it soft. I knew it would be hard for him in the Marois and he's come on for that. He still doesn't have his favoured ground and again it's a very good race.

Ed Walker, trainer of Ten Bob Tony
He seems to have come out of York well. He's had an unbelievable season and seems in great form.

Ten Bob Tony and Kieran Shoemark winning the Queen Anne at AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, owners of Erdenali
We felt that if he'd got a clear run last time he would have won. The plan was always the Moulin if he had won. We're trying to find out if he's a Group 1 horse and Sunday should provide the answer, with Opera Ballo and Gstaad in there. He's never a sparkling homeworker and we tend to think he'll always find more at the races, but physically he's in great form and has strengthened up.

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer & Frere, owners of Nighttime
The form of his third in the Jean Prat is very good because he had the winners of the Maurice de Gheest [Samangan] and the Jacques le Marois [Rayif] behind him. I think that was a very good run and he's been in good form since. It's important for him to run ahead of his main objective, which is the Prix de la Foret. He is effective over 1,600 metres [a mile] but the 1,400 metres [seven furlongs] of the Foret is really made for him. I expect him to be very competitive and you have to forgive his run in the Poule when he had no chance from the draw.

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