Sunway the headline act in the St Leger as David Menuisier looks to go ‘Group 1 crazy’

4 months ago 37

WATCH out for a French Group 1 invasion – from West Sussex!

Oh yes, Glorious Goodwood winner David Menuisier is lining up a host of horses to go Group 1 crazy over the weeks ahead.

So far this term many of the Frenchman’s stable stars have been knocking at the door at racing’s highest level in what can only be described as a ‘année fabuleuse’.

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Compared to the super powers, Menuisier operates with a relatively small string, but his campaign to remember has come from the likes of Sunway, War Chimes, Tamfana, Devil’s Point and last week’s Golden Mile hero Toimy Sun.

The real aim now is to turn near misses into wins at racing’s highest level, something which he has enjoyed thanks to Danceteria and Wonderful Tonight.

Menuisier started updating me on plans by talking about Sunway, second in the Irish Derby and fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

“Sunway is likely to go straight for the St Leger at Doncaster, and possibly the Arc at Longchamp,” Menuisier said.

“In the King George he was stopped and nearly fell over and then got back on his legs and carried on. He showed there he will stay well, and he also showed stamina in the Irish Derby.”

War Chimes is having a break following a third in the Oaks at Epsom and distant eighth in the Irish equivalent.

“Her main target will be the Fillies’ and Mares’ on Champions Day at Ascot,” Menuisier informed.

“She was drawn wide in Ireland and we had to sit and suffer. And then we went wide in the straight. If we had been on the rail the chances are a gap might have opened. She did hang and she always does. So we are trying to investigate that which is why she’s having a break.

“We were in front of the Irish winner You Got To Me at Epsom and I think we are better than the form suggests.”

Tamfana is off to Sandown after her unlucky fourth in the 1000 Guineas, a third in the French Oaks and then a non staying fourth at Longchamp last time over a mile and a half.

“We will use the Atalanta at Sandown as a stepping stone to the Sun Chariot or L’Opera after that. I’d like to enter in the QEII at Ascot – it closes tomorrow so we will see. On pedigree she should stay well – but we got tricked by that. Now we know she doesn’t.”

Ground will be key to Devil’s Point, last in action when well beaten at Deauville but the hero of the German 2000 Guineas on his previous run.

“It was too fast – the ground – in France,” Menuisier said.

“He wants 7f-1m on softer ground. Long term we will look at the Foret. He’s in the Moulin and if the ground is to his liking who knows we might go there.”

Plans are fluid for Toimy Sun, who scored a big handicap success at Goodwood last week, while Caius Chorister’s fourth in the Lillie Langtry is best forgotten.

Menuisier said: “The blood results showed Caius Chorister was challenged by a virus, so we can draw a line through her effort. When she went on 2f out I thought she was sure to win so it explains why she didn’t.

“I’d love to win a Group 1 with her and she so deserves it – she will be an amazing broodmare. We’ll aim for the Royallieu at Longchamp in September.”

Elsewhere, many of us complain Flat racing is not promoted well enough, but two of the stars of this season just show what a hard job it can be.

Most racing fans would never have heard of Notable Speech or Lazzat in early January.

But just six and a bit months later they are two of the most exciting horses in training.

The 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech made his racecourse debut at Kempton on January 27, while Lazzat – so impressive in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over the weekend – was first seen at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on January 21.

Between them they have now won 11 of their 12 races.

It’s a funny old game!