Wizz Kid and Approve, two of the leading juveniles in Europe at this early date, clash in the Group 2, $167,000 Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday. History favors the filly Wizz Kid as females have won two of the last three runnings of this 5 1/2-furlong dash – subsequent 1000 Guineas winners Special Duty and Natagora.
Famous Name confirmed his odds-on favoritism with flying colors at Leopardstown on Thursday evening as he drew off to a comfortable 2 1/2-length victory in the Group 3, $76,500 Meld Stakes. Making his first start since May 9 at short-priced odds of 4-6, the 5-year-old son of Dansili tracked the dawdling pace of Lord High Admiral and led under Pat Smullen approaching the three-sixteenths pole, covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:54.62 on good ground while spotting his five rivals five to 14 pounds.
Workforce, the leading European 3-year-old, faces older horses for the first time in his brief career Saturday at Ascot in the $1.5 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in which he will be sorely tested by his Michael Stoute-trained stablemate and recent course-and-distance winner Harbinger.
Three races in Ireland, England, and Germany this week will determine the European contingent for the Arlington Million on Aug. 21. Famous Name will test the waters in the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday. On Saturday, intended Million runner Stotsfold goes in the York Stakes at York along with Million possible Debussy. And on Sunday, Querari runs in the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich.
Godolphin completed a profitable weekend in Germany on Sunday when Buzzword surprised a big field in the $647,000 Deutsches Derby (German Derby), defeating local hero Zazou by 1 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile classic. Forgotten in the betting market at 17.80-1, the winning son of Pivotal tracked the pace in third under Royston Ffrench and led approaching the furlong marker while covering the distance in 2:29.51 on good ground.
Zazou will have to be at his best at Hamburg on Sunday if he is to hold off a strong Sheikh Mohammed-led British challenge in the $645,000, Group 1 German Derby. He has won two of the key trials for this 1 1/2-mile test, the 1 1/16-mile, Group 3 Dr. Busch Memorial and the 1 3/8-mile, Group 2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen, but Zazou, a son of 1 5/16-mile French Derby winner Shamardal, is not a certainty to stay this longer distance.
Snow Fairy and Meeznah, separated by just a neck when first and second in the English Oaks, go at it again at the Curragh on Sunday in the $548,000, Group 1 Irish Oaks, when they will be joined by two very dangerous rivals in Hibaayeb and Rosanara.
Overdose, the uncannily speedy sprinter who has been plagued with foot problems since winning the voided running of the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp in 2008, makes his much anticipated return to the races at Bratislava Racecourse in Slovakia on Sunday. The occasion is a five-furlong listed race worth $12,900 called the Cena Mysa, in which he will be ridden by Gary Hind, an Englishman who is now based in the Czech Republic.
Zazou will need top effort in German Derby
Snow Fairy, Meeznah meet again in Irish Oaks
