Plenty of relatively unexposed types in the 6.5f maiden for colts and geldings at ParisLongchamp, but given the promise he showed when third on debut at Saint-Cloud, I’m surprised Pinwheel isn’t favourite this morning and is worth siding with.
The Henri Devin-trained son of Exceed And Excel travelled sweetly through the race on debut (7f, soft), but was a little isolated in the home straight and I thought he showed a very good attitude on his debut, finishing within a length of two well-bred newcomers from good yards.
The way he travelled that day suggests this slight drop back in trip won’t inconvenience him and though there is plenty of stamina on the dam’s side of the pedigree, there is also plenty of class, too.
I think that is the best piece of form on offer, he has the physical scope to progress and his in-form yard is enjoying a much better time of it this year after a tricky 2020.
1.20pm ParisLongchamp – 1pt win Pinwheel @ 4-1 (all firms)
The fillies’ maiden (1.50pm) looks the more competitive of the two, but I am taking a chance on Sparklia, who finished one place in front of Pinwheel on debut.
She looked green at various stages during the race, but made up plenty of ground in the straight and it was a very pleasing first run.
She is from an exceptional Wertheimer family – five of her six siblings to reach the track gained black type and the other, Thirsty, looks likely to do so.
All three fillies were black-type performers for Laffon-Parias, with Foreign Tune winning second time out in her career before going on to Listed success, Impassable won three times before winning twice at Group 2 level, while Gwendola was a slow burn, but placed three times in Listed company.
Izena is an obvious danger given her recent form and lofty rating, while Schooner Ridge showed distinct promise on debut. However, Sparklia looks sure to build on her debut form in time and hopefully has learned a sufficient amount from her debut to win this.
1.50pm ParisLongchamp – 1pt each-way Sparklia @ 13/2 (all firms)
