Gosden eyes French glory with Haya-owned colt

Dubai: Highly-regarded British trainer John Gosden takes on the might of the French as he bids to win his first Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp today with the lightly-raced Gregorian.

Gosden has won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) twice in the past with Valentine Waltz (1999) and Zenda (2002) and is pinning his hopes on the Irish-bred Gregorian who has show battling qualities in his two UK starts.

The son of Clodovil represents Princess Haya Bint Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who won the race in 1987 with the Andre Fabre-trained Soviet Star.

William Buick takes the ride on Gregorian who faces 13 rivals including two ominous contenders from Ballydoyle.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has supplemented Furner's Green, the vanquisher of Akeed Wafi in the 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown last month, and the top Irish handler also runs Vault, a colt by Danehill Dancer, who has already had nine career starts winning two of them.

Classic double

Christophe Soumillion takes the ride on the fav-ourite Dabirsim and can clinch a Classic double as he appears to have a big chance in the Group One Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) as well when he rides Ellie Lellouche's fancied Beauty Parlour.

Meanwhile, Godolphin's Masterstroke puts his French Classic credentials on the line when he contests today's €130,000 (Dh615,000) Prix Hocquart.

The race is one of the leading trials for the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) with 27 winners of the Prix Hocquart having achieved victory in the colt's Classic.

Trained by Andre Fabre at Chantilly, the German-bred son of Monsun is unbeaten in two starts including one over today's course and distance of 11 furlongs last month. The mount of Maxime Guyon, Masterstroke takes on six rivals including Group Three winner Loi, Group Three runner-up Saint Loup and Listed race second Top Trip.

Main threat

Loi, the ride of Olivier Peslier, could be the main threat to the Godolphin colt. A son of French Derby winner Lawman, the three-year-old beat UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Yang Tse Kiang in the Group Two Prix De Conde at Longchamp in October having previously battled hard for third in his maiden at Deauville in August.

Another one to note is Ballydoyle representative Athens. who was a comfortable two-length winner at Navan two weeks ago.

However, Fabre has a good record in the Prix Hocquart with six wins including Jeu de Paille (1983), Nasr El Arab (1988), Dancehall (1989), Vadlawys (1994), Hurricane Run (2005), Democrate (2008), and looks to have Masterstroke in the best condition for his Derby test.

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