Quinn positive ahead of Paris test

THE Wow Signal will have his final piece of work this morning ahead of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Sunday.
The Wow Signal ridden by Frankie Dettori before winning the Coventry Stakes.The Wow Signal ridden by Frankie Dettori before winning the Coventry Stakes.
The Wow Signal ridden by Frankie Dettori before winning the Coventry Stakes.

Trainer John Quinn reports his star two-year-old to be on course to defend his 100 per cent record in the Group One contest over seven furlongs – one of the principal support races to the blue riband Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“He’s in grand fettle. He’s going to do his last piece of work, but touch wood, I’m happy with him,” said the Malton trainer.

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Owned by Al Shaqab Racing, The Wow Signal has done everything asked of him so far, winning his maiden at Ayr by five lengths on his debut under Frankie Dettori followed by a cosy success in the Coventry Stakes at Royal 
Ascot and a Group One triumph in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

Quinn took The Wow Signal out of the totepool Two-Year-old Trophy at Redcar this coming Saturday at today’s five-day confirmation stage.

Meanwhile, Al Shaqab Racing were pleased to see some rain fall in Paris yesterday ahead of Treve’s Arc defence.

The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained filly was an impressive winner of Europe’s premier middle-distance prize last October, but has had her fair share of problems since then and has yet to hit the heights in any of her three starts this year.

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However, she is reported to have done everything right since her latest run in the Prix Vermeille, when she was fourth to Baltic Baroness.

“Treve is in good form,” said Harry Herbert, manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing

“They had rain in Paris (yesterday), so the more of that the better as far as making it good or on the easier side of good, which would suit her best.

“They have had a little bit of rain and it all helps, but Criquette reports her to be very well and, fingers crossed, we’re nearly there. There’s no way I’ve lost faith in her. If she gets her ground and she will have needed the run last time as well – hopefully she will go to the Arc spot on.”

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Al Shaqab have an equally strong contender as part-owners in the Elie Lellouche-trained Ectot, who burst into the picture with a smart performance to win the Prix Niel on his first try at a mile-and-a-half after a five-month lay-off.

The ante-post favourite remains Epsom Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda who will be looking to return to winning ways for former Malton-based jockey Paul Hanagan after her slightly surprising defeat in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York’s Ebor meeting.

Charlie Hills remains keen on supplementing his quirky two-year-old Cotai Glory in Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye sprint – despite the horse unshipping jockey George Baker just 50 yards from the finish line at Doncaster with the Flying Childers Stakes at his mercy.

“He’s in great form and came out of the Doncaster mishap fine,” said Hills.

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Joseph O’Brien has spoken of his delight with Ol’ Man River in the wake of his impressive Juddmonte Beresford Stakes success at the Curragh on Sunday.

The son of Montjeu cost 2.85 million euros as a yearling and took his unbeaten record to two in the Group Two event.

Out of the top-class racemare Finsceal Beo, bookmakers make him second-favourite at around 8-1 for next year’s Epsom Derby, although his rider is in no doubt that he possesses the speed for a mile.

O’Brien jnr said: “I couldn’t be happier with him. He is very pacy, he relaxes and he is a classy horse.”

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston recorded his 200th winner of the campaign when Kifaaya prevailed at Bath. It is the fourth time in six seasons that the yard has reached the landmark.