Recoletos surges to Prix du Moulin de Longchamp win

Recoletos grabbed the lead in the final strides to win his second Group 1 race of 2018 with Sunday’s $520,290 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in Paris.

Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Recoletos (the 5-2 favorite) closed from a few lengths off the pace to catch 7-1 Wind Chimes at the wire. Recoletos won by a head over Wind Chimes, a 3-year-old filly who was third in the French 1,000 Guineas in May.

Expert Eye, a highly promising 3-year-old colt trained in England by Michael Stoute, closed with interest between runners in the field of 11 to finish third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Lightning Spear, the winner of the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, England, on Aug. 1, could only finish fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths as the 7-2 second choice.

Recoletos, a 4-year-old colt by Whipper, races for Sarl Darpat France and trainer Carlos Laffon-Parais. The win on Sunday, in the final Group 1 race for milers in France this year, is expected to lead to a start in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Ascot on Oct. 20.

Earlier this year, Recoletos won the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at 1 1/8 miles at Longchamp, which was followed by a disappointing seventh in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and a second behind the 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last month. Recoletos has won five stakes in his career, which includes seven wins in 13 starts.

Alpha Centauri, who is scheduled to start in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, Ireland, on Saturday, is considered Europe’s leading miler.