Where are all the stayers? Stamina the big question mark in a wide-open running of the Cadran

Where are all the stayers? That was the cry when only three horses passed the forfeit stage of the Prix du Cadran.

Although a rash of five supplementary entries on Wednesday has saved the family silver to some extent, the average rating of that quintet is 104, while very few in the field have any guarantee of staying two and a half miles in soft ground.

This regrettable state of affairs is at least in part the logical outcome of the European Pattern Committee's decision to grant Ascot's long-held wish of Group 1 status for the Long Distance Cup, a race run over a less-exacting two miles and only 13 days later.

With the Prix Royal-Oak coming up eight days after that, there are now three Group 1s in the space of three weeks all vying for a small number of genuinely top-class stayers.

The decision to allow the Long Distance Cup its promotion is not the sole reason for the Cadran's woes, nor can you argue that the race hadn't proved its worth on ratings, while a prize fund of almost exactly twice that of the Cadran meant that it was going to continue to be more attractive, whatever its Pattern status.

From a punting point of view, we are left with few guarantees on the stamina front, with the three "original" entries already including Sunway, who David Menuisier reinstated when he saw the race cutting up.

Sunway: explosive debut winner at Sandown

Sunway: will he see out the trip in the Prix du Cadran?Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"If he stays well he should be right there," said Menuisier at Saint-Cloud on Friday, fresh from saddling Ashariba to win the Listed Prix Dahlia. "The only question mark I have is the trip, because the horse is feeling great and the ground will be fine. Whether he stays, I don't know."

Coltrane is the proven class stayer in the line-up, and has plenty of experience of this distance, having run in the last three Gold Cups at Ascot, including when narrowly beaten by Courage Mon Ami in 2023.

At eight, Coltrane is not getting any younger, but while Sunway has been finishing in and around better middle-distance opposition this season – notably future Group 1-winner Sibayan in the Grand Prix de Deauville – the Mariscotti's wonderful servant is virtually the only runner who doesn't have a major question to answer at the trip.

Coltrane: winner at Sandown earlier this season under William BuickCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The five supplementary entries have not come from complete left field, with Francis Graffard, Andre Fabre and Aidan O'Brien among those having thrown their hats into the ring.

The George Scott-trained Caballo De Mar is certainly progressive, having added the German St Leger to his excellent second behind French Master in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Queenstown has been busy for Aidan O'Brien, having finished down the field in the Irish St Leger and then third in the Curragh version of the Cesarewitch in recent weeks.

Coetzee finished third on soft ground to France's best stayer Double Major, who patently failed to see out the Cadran trip behind Kyprios 12 months ago and waits for the hat-trick bid in the Royal-Oak at the end of the month. As for Coetzee, you wouldn't want to be a layer of any of Graffard's Group 1 runners at the moment.

"He's in great form so, like everyone else, we’ve thrown our hat in the ring," said the trainer. "The big question mark is whether he’ll stay. I think he’ll get the trip, but a lot of us are asking ourselves the same question. He’ll be ridden cold to try and see out the trip."

Sacred Spirit's sole try at further than a mile and a half this season was also his worst run, but Andre Fabre might have been only half-joking when he said he was hoping for a "nice surprise".

"The distance is not the question with him, there's plenty of stamina on the dam's side," said Fabre. "The reason why I put him in is the same as everyone else. He's not yet shown himself to be Group 1 class but it would be a nice surprise if he does here."

Read more from our Saturday Raceday Intel package:

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2.40 Newmarket: 'A repeat of her run in the spring will put her bang there' - can Cinderella's Dream end a 22-year hoodoo for Godolphin in the Sun Chariot?

3.00 Ascot: 'This is a stepping stone to the British Champions Sprint' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Group 3 Bengough Stakes

3.35 Ascot: 'From what we’ve seen in the mornings he should be bang there' - who fancies their chances in a typically competitive Challenge Cup?

4.00 Longchamp: 'She’s going to run well' - have the French finally got one who can repel the raiders in the Prix de Royallieu?

4.35 Gowran: rapidly improving Galway Plate winner back in action - but Gordon Elliott voices concerns ahead of four-timer bid