Duo lead Godolphin charge at Prix de Paris

Three-year-old colts Roman Candle and Jalmoud bid for a first G1 success in the Grand Prix de Paris over a mile and a half at Longchamp, France, on Sunday.

Roman Candle (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) races over 12 furlongs for the first time, having experienced trouble in running when keeping on well to be fifth of the 15 runners in the French Derby, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, over a furlong and a half shorter at Chantilly on June 2.

The son of Le Havre posted two excellent efforts in Classic trials, following up a staying-on third in the nine-furlong G3 Prix La Force at Longchamp in April with a game neck victory in the G2 Prix Greffulhe over an extended 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in May.

Jalmoud (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) has also tasted success in France this year, with the son of New Approach battling well to overcome Soft Light by a head in the Listed Prix de l’Avre, run over the same course and distance as the Grand Prix de Paris at the start of May.

He failed to stay a mile and three-quarters in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, UK, but bounced back to form with a clear second in the 10-furlong G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, 30 June.

The field of eight for the Grand Prix de Paris includes G1 Derby third and G2 King Edward VII Stakes winner Japan plus G3 scorer Slalom and Soft Light.

Lisa-Jane Graffard said: “Roman Candle ran a very encouraging race in the Prix du Jockey Club, which Andre Fabre hopes has set him up nicely for this contest.

“We would be delighted if he were to finish in the first three.”

Charlie Appleby said: “Jalmoud produced an encouraging run when we dropped him back in trip for the Prix Eugene Adam, which followed a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot.

“We have always felt that he was a mile and a half horse and he is a course and distance winner, so we are hopeful that he can run well.”

Sunday’s card at Longchamp also stages the seven-furlong Listed Prix Roland de Chambure for two-year-olds, in which Charlie Appleby is represented by Saqqara King (James Doyle, drawn one of the five runners) and Well Of the Wisdom (Mickael Barzalona, drawn four), who have both been successful at Newmarket, UK.

Following a promising debut fourth, Saqqara King stayed on well to triumph over the same distance on the July Course on June 22 while six-furlong G2 Coventry Stakes ninth Well Of Wisdom gained a debut victory over five furlongs on the Rowley Mile in April.

Charlie Appleby said: “We were pleased with Saqqara King’s win at Newmarket and he has definitely come forward for the run.

“We felt that it was the right time to step him up to Listed company and see how he copes at this level.

“Well Of Wisdom finished mid-field in the Coventry Stakes and came out of the race well. We are hoping that the step up to seven furlongs will bring about some further improvement.”