Pinatubo among stellar trio target G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp glory

Three horses responsible for seven G1 victories between them — Pinatubo, Persian King and Victor Ludorum — provide Godolphin with a formidable team for the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at Longchamp, France, on Sunday.

Pinatubo was crowned Europe’s best juvenile for 25 years in 2019 following an outstanding unbeaten campaign for Charlie Appleby that yielded G1 wins in both the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

The Shamardal colt ran brave races in defeat at G1 level over a mile on his first two starts this season, taking third in the 2,000 Guineas before going down by a length to Palace Pier in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

He steps back up to a mile following a scintillating victory in the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in mid-July, when he showed brilliant acceleration to score by three-quarters of a length. James Doyle, who rode Pinatubo on his first four career wins, renews his association with the three-year-old.

Appleby said: “We were delighted to see Pinatubo get his head back in front in the Prix Jean Prat after gallant efforts in the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. We purposely gave him a break after that run with the view of going for this race. His preparation has gone well and we are looking forward to stepping him back up to a mile.

“It’s a very competitive race but we are very confident that we have Pinatubo in great shape and he is going to run a big race. I think it will be tactical but Pinatubo is blessed with the way he travels and his turn of foot. Hopefully, if we can get everything in the right order, he is going to be a big player.

“James (Doyle) knows Pinatubo very well, having ridden him for much of his two-year-old season including winning the G2 Vintage Stakes.”

The two most recent winners of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Persian King and Victor Ludorum, both run for trainer Andre Fabre. Persian King captured the French Classic in 2019 before going on to finish second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on his only subsequent three-year-old appearance.

As a four-year-old, the son of Kingman has gone on to further significant success, following up an authoritative display in the mile G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud in June with an emphatic victory in the nine-furlong G1 Prix d’Ispahan at Chantilly the following month.

Persian King (Pierre-Charles Boudot) failed to sparkle on heavy ground on his latest outing in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday, 16 August, in which he kept on in fourth behind Palace Pier.

Testing conditions at Deauville also compromised Victor Ludorum in the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on Saturday, 15 August, when he finished third behind Mishriff and The Summit.

Victor Ludorum (Mickael Barzalona) was third behind the same two horses in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in July, in which he broke slowly, but displayed an excellent turn of foot when taking the Poule d’Essai des Poulains over a mile at Deauville in June.

Like Pinatubo, the Shamardal colt enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in 2019 that culminated with victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Andre Fabre said: “The Prix Jacques Le Marois was a race run under very particular circumstances and Persian King’s performance reflected that. The conditions are much more in his favour here.

“Victor Ludorum has come out of his last race in good form and we are looking forward to seeing him back over a mile.” Sunday’s card at Longchamp also features the G3 Prix La Rochette over seven furlongs for two-year-olds, in which Dubawi colt Naval Crown (Appleby/ Doyle) steps up in class following a decisive maiden win at York on Aug.21

Appleby added: “Naval Crown won a strong maiden in good fashion and came out of the race well. He found the going too quick at Ascot but appreciated some give in the ground at York. He has come on with each run and this looks a nice race for him to step up to Pattern company.”

Four-year-old Sublimis (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) stretches out to just short of two miles for the G3 Prix Gladiateur. The son of Shamardal has placed on all four of his starts this season, most recently when staying on well to take third in the G3 Prix de Reux over an extended mile and a half at Deauville on Sunday, 9 August.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Sublimis is a progressive horse who acquitted himself very well at this level last time. This is a big step up in trip but his dam was a top-class stayer and he has the profile to do well in these types of races this autumn and next year, so we are hopeful of another step up from him.”