Hurricane Lane aims for more G1 success

Hurricane Lane goes for a second straight G1 victory over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Paris, highlight of Longchamp’s Bastille Day card on Wednesday.

The Frankel colt completed a memorable Classic double for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby when powering home to take the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday, June 26.

He had previously finished third behind stablemate Adayar in the G1 Derby at Epsom Downs earlier the same month, his only defeat in five career appearances.

After scoring on debut at Newmarket in October, Hurricane Lane captured a Newbury conditions race on his three-year-old return in April before striking in the G2 Dante Stakes at York in May.

William Buick, who has partnered Hurricane Lane on all four starts this season, takes the ride again.

Appleby said: “Hurricane Lane heads to Paris in good order. We expected him to need some time after what looked a hard race in the Irish Derby but he surprised us with how well he came out of it.

“He worked nicely over the weekend and we opted to take this route as there is plenty of time between now and the St Leger. This looks a good opportunity to hopefully win another G1 over a mile and a half and he looks the one to beat.”

Wednesday evening’s card also includes the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil over a mile and three-quarters, in which consistent five-year-old Sublimis (Mickael Barzalona) steps back up in trip following a string of excellent efforts over shorter for Andre Fabre this season.

The son of Shamardal beat G1 winner In Swoop in the 12-furlong Listed Prix Lord Seymour at Longchamp in April and has placed behind the same horse on both his subsequent starts, including a half-length second in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Sublimis is in good form and we expect him to run his usual race. He has been performing well all season and is a very relaxed horse, so we hope that will be fine with the step back up in distance.”

Meanwhile, Juvenile colt Native Trail joined a notable group of Godolphin winners of the G2 Superlative Stakes as he galloped out strongly in one of the highlights of last week’s July Festival at Newmarket.

The royal blue silks have now been carried to victory six times in the seven-furlong contest including by Dubawi, who posted his first Group-race success on the July Course 17 years ago.

Dubawi went on to win the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes on his next start and Quorto also completed the Newmarket/Curragh double in 2018. Native Trail looks set to follow the same route as he aims to continue a faultless start to his career.

Five further Godolphin winners at the July Festival included Yibir, who looked a top stayer in the making when capturing the G3 Bahrain Trophy. Live Your Dream, Royal Fleet and Path Of Thunder all enjoyed handicap victories, while a step up to Pattern company beckons for impressive maiden winner Noble Truth.

Midtown produced a valiant effort in defeat when coming home third in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on Sunday. The Dubawi colt’s performance was all the more commendable as he was making his first start for almost eight months and his Group-race debut.

Meanwhile, Midtown set himself up for an exciting second half of the season with an excellent third on his three-year-old return in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, France, on Sunday.

The Dubawi colt headed into the seven-furlong contest on the back of a pair of decisive juvenile victories for Andre Fabre in November, including a two-length success in the Listed Prix Herod at Chantilly.

Slightly slow into his stride, Midtown was covered up at the rear of a group of nine that raced down the centre of the course, with the four other runners electing to come up the stands’ rail.

He progressed a couple of places half a mile from home and showed good acceleration after being switched out by Barzalona with just over two furlongs to race.