Who wins the Prix Du Jockey Club?

The French Derby is much like the English Derby in terms of how challenging it is for horses and its a true test of their ability. It combines high cruising speed, balance, stamina, turn of foot, grit and more. In addition to this, the jockey plays a big role with their familiarity to the track and how they can read what the horses and jockeys around them are doing and so good timing is vital and can be the difference between 1st and last.

The similarities between the English and French Derby continues with how important the draw is and the impact it can have on the race. For example, 10 of the last 12 winners were drawn stall 8 or lower. This is because the higher draws often have to come across to get an advantageous position but it's easier to be behind as you have to be quick and get across which often isn't possible, this puts you behind a lot of horses and so it becomes harder to get to front in the later stages.

So, who will win?

Well, it's not that simple. However, there are strong claims for a few of the contenders that may give them an edge in the race. CAMILLE PISSARRO is the first name on the shortlist as it is drawn stall 1, very handy for this race. Good prep for this race include the French version of the guineas, CAMILLE PISSARRO not only took part but did a very respectful 3rd as you can see in the video below it finished the race well and so this step up should suit. It also had to be dragged wide in order to get a clear run and was also drawn stall 15 so a better drawn stall and a better passage through in this race should see it get very close.

One thing I would like to note in that video I edited is if you watch RIDARI (all dark green silks that finishes 5th), it seems to me that when it approaches the line the jockey pulls as it knows it won't win the race. This subtle action raises a lot of questions. First of all, why? but not only that it also causes questions like what if? What if Barzalona (jockey) hadn't pulled the horse and let it go and run freely and kept pushing, like the others around him. Although there wasn't much track left and it wasn't going to win, it would allow us to see what the horse still had left. In my opinion, for a horse to pull like that and for it's head to be so high when a pull on the reins after a fast paced race like that, I think it had a lot left to give and so I think this horse is a HUGE danger to the favourite in this step up in trip. I haven't seen much said about this move and it's like not many had noticed, i think it tells a lot more and we will see a big improvement in the French Derby. The higher draw of 11 will not help but if it can grab a nice position early, don't be surprised if the Aga Khan owned horse wins.

An Unexposed Superstar?

The very highly exciting colt Sinileo could be Andre Fabre's best chance. It sounds silly as you would normally, rightly, disregard a horse that has only had 1 run before running in the French Derby. However, this colt absolutely embarrassed it's opposition on debut, and was asked to quicken 3f out and grew the gap to multiple lengths instantly, from their Maxime Guyon calmy looked around, knew he'd won and calmly bumped along to the winning post. There is no doubt that a step up in trip will see it perform at it's best and at a nice 12/1 it gives a nice e/w angle. It could be anything and it's exciting, drawn favorably in stall 4, it gives the jockey that knows this course so well, freedom to go where he wants. This is as about the biggest step up in grade you can go and so it may be too much to ask. However, the vibes from trainer and connections is that it can compete against the best and, although unlikely, it is very much a possibility, Sinileo could cause a shock in the Prix Du Jockey Club.

Main Pick: CAMILLE PISSARRO

Could be much better than last out and evidence to support claims: RIDARI

Good E/W angle and could be anything: SINILEO