The card with the final Group race of the French season kicks off with a mile Listed for two-year-olds. The Critérium du Languedoc carries a fair pot for those who either target the race, such as David Menuisier with Belloccio last year, or for connections of juveniles who are late to come to hand.
Sirana looks a worthy favourite for Jean-Claude Rouget after a devastating performance in a Lyon Parilly conditions race. The daughter of Siyouni looked at least a 40+ horse, though she beat little of substance. This will be her toughest test to date.
In winning at Angers last month, Spanish Baroque, also trained by Rouget, showed she could travel and quicken around a provincial track. Her second to Txope at Deauville now reads better after that filly then won a German Listed and then ran second to Mangoustine in a Group Three.
Christophe Ferland has had a fantastic season with his juveniles and you suspect that his G1 Boussac placer Times Square isn’t even his best juvenile filly. Although she comes here off a break, Saramouche is ‘loved’ by the trainer (see July stable tour on ATR here) and is described as being in good form by Ferland in the Paris Turf today. The daughter of Anodin looked to have the world at her feet when winning a June maiden at Compiegne as favourite, with four future stakes fillies all in behind.
#Compiègne @HippoCompiegne
Par Anodin, Saramouche (@maximeguyon_off / @teamchferland / Wertheimer et frères) termine fort et domine Txope, la pouliche d'@AntoGriezmann. De belles impressions pour ces inédites. pic.twitter.com/3W4wXdZdje— Equidia (@equidia) June 11, 2021
She then ran no sort of race at La Teste in a billed match against Making Moovies on August 1st, and she has been off since. The obvious doubts about her are more than factored into odds of 7-1 and she makes appeal today, but has more of a win-only profile than an each-way one. The fact she had a weaker entry this week at Bordeaux suggests that connections are very hopeful of picking up black type today at the very least.
The each-way steal looks to be Quessigny, an 8-1 shot who won over this course and distance last month. I used to own a micro share in his dam Kilava and have been following him for a few months now. He likes to race handy and the fear with him is that he might be posted wide around the two turns from his car park draw in nine.
RECOMMENDED BET: Saramouche @ 7-1 (all firms)