The opening maiden at Chantilly is far from the strongest contest of its type for the track, and Absurde looks a shade of value this morning at 4-1.
Perseverants didn’t get the clearest of runs on debut in a race that looks likely to work out well. He was then too keen on his latest outing, but still stayed on off a slow pace to get second, though it is easy enough to pick holes in the form.
Spargi Island will no doubt be popular with Boudot on board. PCB got absolutely no run on the Footstepsinthesand colt over course and distance last time, but there might not have been that much in the tank and he wouldn’t be one to be taking a short price about today.
Instead, we are siding with Absurde. Well-fancied on debut at Fontainebleau in November, he looked all at sea that day and is better-judged on his second over this CD 16 days later. Shuffled back through the pack from his prominent early position, he had to wait to make his run, but finished really well to claim second behind the Fabre-trained Pimento, who holds the Classic entries and looks a talented colt.
The Wertheimer-owned son of Fastnet Rock was gelded before his debut last year, despite a strong page (his dam was Listed-placed for these connections and has already produced a Group-placed filly), but Laffon-Parias has done that before – think Gr.2 2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner/triple Gr.1 placed Ziyad, who was gelded before his debut at two.
It is also worth noting that Laffon-Parias took this race in 2019 with another Wertheimer-owned gelding, Flambeur, who went on to win at Listed level later in the year.
12.25pm Chantilly: 1pt win Absurde @ 4-1 (Bet365)
