Appleby quartet seek French flair

Dubai: Dual Listed winner Sound And Silence heads a quartet of Charlie Appleby-trained two-year-olds seeking Group race victories at Chantilly, France, on Sunday.

Sound And Silence, winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 20, is the ride of Godolphin jockey James Doyle, in the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg.

The son of Exceed And Excel, who is drawn in stall four, faces six rivals including Listed scorer Rioticism.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “We were delighted with Sound And Silence’s performance at York, where he won carrying a penalty.

“He has come out of that race very well and, as long as the conditions don’t ease any further, we would be hopeful that he will be a player at Chantilly. He deserves to take the step up to G3 company.”

Stage Magic, also ridden by James Doyle, lines up in the mile Group 3 Prix des Chenes.

The Dark Angel colt won over seven furlongs at Newbury on July 21 before going down by a shorthead to Francesco Bere in a Listed contest over a mile at Deauville on August 19.

“Stage Magic just got touched off last time in a Listed race at Deauville,” said Appleby.

“Ease in the ground will suit him and a repeat performance of his latest run should put him bang there.”

The four other starters in the Prix des Chenes include Olmedo and Diamond Vendome, who were both successful on their only start.

Fillies Expressiy and Wild Illusion both go to post in the mile Group 3 Prix d’Aumale.

Wild Illusion, a daughter of Dubawi, triumphed on her debut when a comfortable winner of a mile at Yarmouth on August 22, while Expressiy scored in a similar event over seven furlongs at Newmarket on August 25.

“Expressiy won last time out at Newmarket and did it nicely. She has come of that run well and will be suited by ease in the ground and the step up to a mile,” Appleby added.

“Wild Illusion won impressively on her first start at Yarmouth over a mile, so she is proven at the trip. She has also come out of her race well and hopefully we are going into the Prix d’Aumale with two live chances.”

James Doyle rides Wild Illusion, with Mickael Barzalona aboard Expressiy.

Godolphin is also represented by three-year-old filly Val De Marne (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona), who takes the step up to Listed level in the extended 10-furlong Prix de Liancourt.