Big Rock favored in moderate Prix du Moulin

After winning four races in a row, the 3-year-old Big Rock found one better in the French Derby and then again in the Jacques Le Marois, but after finishing second in his first two Group 1 starts, he looks like the horse to beat Sunday at Longchamp in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Big Rock is one of eight entered in this one-mile contest, which looks modest by the race’s historical standards. Trained by Christopher Head, who has had a breakout last year as a young trainer, and ridden by Aurelien Lemaitre, Big Rock was favored going 1 5/16 miles in the French Derby, but after leading was no match late for victorious Ace Impact. No shame in that runner-up finish, since Ace Impact is the current favorite for the Prix de l’Arc d’Triomphe.

Maybe the French Derby distance was a little too far for Big Rock, whose connections cut him back to one mile for the Marois. Big Rock turned in a strong performance there, but was beaten by Inspiral, a top-class filly from England. No such rival awaits in the Moulin, and Big Rock should be just fine over good-to-soft going.

* The Moulin isn’t the only moderate Group 1 on Sunday in Europe, as the Grosser Preis Von Baden over 1 1/2 miles drew a fairly uninspiring field of seven. Zagrey, second to Westover the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in his most recent start, is the probable favorite.

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