Prix La Rochette Preview

Prix La Rochette

Group 3 for 2YOs over 1,400m - €36,200 (€64,050 with Premiums)

A race won by Beauvatier in 2023, this is effectively a trial for the Group 1 races later in the season. We only have 4 runners going to post, but with premiums included there is €64,050 on offer to the winner. This race struggles to attract runners from the UK, with only 4 in the last 5 seasons, primarily because of the fact that it falls in the same time period as the Doncaster races and Irish Champions weekend. However, in 2021, Acer Alley did beat El Bodegon and New Science.

Here are my notes on the runners going to post this year;

Vardif (FH Graffard) - In hindsight, Vardif was unlucky enough to jump into Afjan on his debut at Chantilly in June and although he was ultimately chinned in the final few strides, the pair were 6-lengths clear at the line and the 4th and 5th have both won races since to confirm the visual impression that this was an above average debutantes race. He made no mistake on his 2nd start, racing widest of all over the straight 1,200m at Chantilly in a race run at an even tempo where the middle furlongs ranged between 11.27 and 11.64s with a finishing speed of 101.5%. Cantering at the 2-furlong pole, he pulled readily clear in the closing stages and was 0.47s faster than the runner-up over the final quarter of a mile. The placed horses have both hit the frame since, but his debut run was certainly a stronger piece of collateral form. His Dam was a winner over 12-furlongs and his pedigree on the Dam side would suggest that he will make up into a better 3-year-old over further, but he is worth a try at this level, even if he will need there to be a decent pace which is less likely with just 4 runners. Has an entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Komorebi (A Fabre) - Finished behind Kenzel on debut at Compiegne in June but the winner got the first run and he was faster over the final 600m based on the McLloyd sectional times. Won his 2nd start at Clairefontaine over a mile, sitting on the leaders quarters before being sent for home with 300m to run and asserting easily to win by 3-lengths. The 3rd placed Waiting for You won next time out at Saint-Malo and finished 3rd in the Listed Criterium de L’Ouest at Craon last week and on a direct line with that form, that would suggest that Komorebi has run beyond a mark of 42 to win his maiden. He landed a Class 2 race at Deauville on quick ground 5-weeks ago, beating a pair of horses with Listed form on their CVs, though he was receiving 2-kilos from the runner-up. Once in front, he dominated the race with the rail to help, although the 3rd placed Good Bye Manu was a faster finisher. He has improved since his debut and should reverse the form with Kenzel, but both victories have come with a leader to track and he is likely to need one of the Wertheimer horses to set this race up for him. Has an entry in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Kenzel (C Ferland) - Won on debut at Compiegne when beating Komorebi, hitting the front at halfway and ultimately asserting in the penultimate furlong. Probably didn’t need to improve when winning a Class 2 at Dieppe on his next start, making all the running to win by a length and a half. The runner-up has subsequently been sold to the US, so we don’t have a great line into the strength of that form, but he was giving away 4-kilos to her. He finished last when heavily eased in the Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville last month and whilst I can’t judge him on that effort, it would be a concern and with his owners having a more likely type, I do suspect that he may well be used as a pacemaker to ensure this is run at an even gallop. Has an entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Nighttime (Chr Head) - The highest rated of these with a mark of 49.5 kilos after 3 starts. He finished 2nd at Saint-Cloud behind Ulymine on his debut in May, but the winner got the first run and Maxime Guyon gave him far too much to do from the rear. The sectional times show that he was the fastest horse in each of the last 2-furlongs and he quickly made amends for this with a comfortable success in the Class 2 Prix Arbele a month later, beating a pair of 39-rated Fillies by 3-lengths. He is a Listed winner too, having beaten the James Horton trained Sirius A in the Prix Roland de Chambure at Deauville in July. Sitting on the leaders quarters, he hit the front with 2-furlongs to run but had to be driven out to maintain his advantage. A clear best on the day and certainly the more promising of the Wertheimer pair here. Has an entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Summary; this is messy. We have only 4 runners going to post, which is likely to make this a relatively tactical affair. I have spent some time trying to form a pace map and the only logical conclusion that I could come to was that Kenzel would lead the field. If we assume that he is a pacemaker for Nighttime, then that might lead us to think he is the most likely winner. However, whilst he is a Listed winner, he had to be driven out to win that race and I suspect that this will require another step forwards. Komorebi has done little wrong and if he can get ahead of Nighttime coming down the hill, he should hold him off based on his recent finishing efforts. Either way, Nighttime was just too short at the morning price of 11/10 and I much prefer Vardif. His debut effort worked out so well and he is such a strong traveler that I think he will actually benefit from having a pace to track in a small field. In a year’s time, he will be the best of these and whilst there are obvious risks attached in such a small field, he looks the type to cope with a tactical race and were he to win this, he would have to go on the shortlist for the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend.