This is the best field of thoroughbreds assembled in the world so far this year - by far !
Click here to view final field.
6/4 favourite MONTJEU - drubbed strong fields in both French and Irish Derbies.
The best 3-Y-O in Europe in '99, and possibly the world ( but look out in 2000 for a colt called HORSE CHESTNUT (SAF)).
Won his trial and races on his homecourse.
2/1 second favourite DAYLAMI - totally outclassed potent fields in the King George and
Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.
Strong claims to being the HORSE-OF-THE-WORLD in 1999 on global form to date.
How will he handle the soft ground predicted for Sunday's championship.
Should be joint favourite.
9/2 third favourite EL CONDOR PASA
- The 1998 JAPAN CUP winner has top-class form in France this year.
Reported to be working extremely well.
12/1 DARYABA - The Aga Kahn's champion 3-Y-O grass filly of the world this year
- winner of French Oaks and Prix Vermeille
- is considered by Gerald Mosse to be the "best filly I have ever ridden."
Typical Aga Kahn pedigree, this daughter of Night Shift
is inbred to Nearco (4 son x 6 daughter).
Her dam is inbred to Prince Chevalier
(4 daughter x 4 son).
Her grandam is inbred to Pharos (4 son x 5 son), and Djebel (4 daughter x 3 daughter).
We think she is better than a 12/1 shot !
16/1 TIGER HILL - 3rd beaten less than a length by SAGAMIX in the PRIX DE L'ARC TRIOMPHE last year.
Beaten 2.5 lengths by EL CONDOR PASA in GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD in July this year,
but seems to have improved considerably since then with two GR 1 victories in Germany.
Peaking at just the right time.
16/1 CROCO ROUGE - 1,75 lengths 4th in ARC as a 3-Y-O last year.
Beat EL CONDOR PASA by 0,75 length in the PRIX D'ISPAHAN in May this year,
and ran a good enough trial when 1,75 lengths 3rd to this same horse in the 2 400 m PRIX FOY on 12 September.
20/1 DARK MOONDANCER - beat DREAM WELL a head in PRIX GANAY in May this year
and then won the GRAND PREMIO DI MILANO.
20/1 DREAM WELL - won 1998 IRISH and FRENCH DERBIES and beaten 3,15 lengths in 1998 ARC.
Well beaten by DAYLAMI in IRISH CHAMPION STAKES, but runs well over 2 400 m on soft going in France.
33/1 LEGGERA - neck 2nd in ARC as 3-Y-O filly last year.
25/1 BORGIA - Champion German Filly.
Ran 3rd in ARC as 3-Y-O in 1997.
Top-class head 2nd to EL CONDOR PASA in PRIX FOY on 12 September.
Must be respected as possible placed runner here.
Has come to hand at right time and likes this tough 2 400 m.
BEST ON FORM:
| 1. | DAYLAMI |
| 2. | MONTJEU |
| 3. | DARYABA |
| 4. | EL CONDOR PASA |
| 5. | TIGER HILL |
| 6. | BORGIA |
SARAH'S SELECTION
On sheer ability I would go for DAYLAMI, however MONTJEU and DARYABA are
classy, preference for MONTJEU. EL CONDOR PASA could upset DAYLAMI.
If DAYLAMI runs like he did last time he will win it.
TIGER HILL and BORGIA are both high class performers each having claims.
FANTASTIC LIGHT is an up and coming sort who in his last start beat subsequent ST LEGER winner MUTAFA WEQ.
My final selection is for MONTJEU, DAYLAMI and EL CONDOR PASA to fight out the finish
with possibly classy CROCO ROUGE and DARYABA the best of the rest.
| 1. | DAYLAMI |
| 2. | MONTJEU |
| 3. | EL CONDOR PASA |
LATEST BETTING:
| ODDS | HORSE |
| 6/4 | Montjeu |
| 2/1 | Daylami |
| 9/2 | El Condor Pasa |
| 12/1 | Daryaba |
| 14/1 | Tiger Hill |
| 16/1 | Croco Rouge, Greek Dance |
| 20/1 | Fantastic Light, Greek Dance, Borgia, Dream Well |
| 25/1 | Dark Moondancer, Bienamado |
| 33/1 | Bar |