More Thunder ‘ready to go’ for Foret gold

More Thunder’s rise through the ranks has been one of the success stories of the season and he now has the chance to enhance William Haggas’ stellar record in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp.

The Somerville Lodge handler sent out One Master to win this race three years on the bounce between 2018 and 2020 and has high hopes for the talented son of Night Of Thunder, who after four victories this term, will get a first taste of Group One action.

Haggas said: “He’s got a good profile and won well last time. The form of that race has been upheld by Marvelman at Doncaster and I’m very happy with his condition, he’s ready to go.

“He doesn’t seem to mind about the ground and he’s a talented horse.

“He was a bit keen in his work in the spring so we ran him over six furlongs to see where we were. There’s quite a lot of speed on his dam’s side and of course he won over six a few times and then when he stepped up to seven he’s been even better. Hopefully that can continue.”

The Foret was won 12 months ago by Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle and the Frenchman will bid to repeat the dose with Maranoa Charlie, who represents the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbred entity and has gone close in two outings for his new owners, in the Prix Jean Prat and the City of York Stakes.

Charlie Bond of the Bond Thoroughbred team said: “We’re going without the hood on Sunday and the rain is coming in just in time, so we will see how we go if everything is in our favour.

“I think he can go on any ground speaking to Christopher, but it would inconvenience some of the others. Christopher said he’s training very well and was very bullish about him.

“We’ve been so close against top-class Group One performers the last twice and the form of the race at York is working out tremendously well. Hopefully this is the race for him.”

Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zarigana was a Classic winner at this venue earlier in the term and has been freshened up since just failing to secure Coronation Stakes glory at Royal Ascot. She is joined in the line-up by stablemate Roshvar.

Meanwhile, Andre Fabre won this 10 years ago with Make Believe and will now saddle his son Sajir after he saw off Lazzat for Prix Maurice de Gheest glory in the summer.

Fabre said: “He has had a good season and this would look the right race for him.

“However, his form with Lazzat does not now look as good as it did at the time. He does not seemingly have a good draw in 13, but it all depends on the pace, if there is plenty of pace on it might not be so bad so I’m not too worried as it looks like there could be.

“He is going there a fresh horse and he should run well”

Further Group One action comes in the Prix de l’Opera Longines where David Menuisier’s Tamfana is seen for the first time since May having been kept fresh for this first outing at 10 furlongs since finishing third in last year’s Prix de Diane.

“She’s really well,” said Menuisier. “In the Lockinge she gave herself a good clout during the race and considering the ground was rattling fast we just decided to give her the summer off and bring her back for this.

“She’s in very good form and very good shape and I’d be hopeful of a big run. When you haven’t raced for a while there’s always a question mark, but I’ve done as much as I could.

“Goodwood were kind enough to let us on there last Wednesday after the last race. Colin Keane rode her and he felt she was as good as ever really. Obviously it’s a piece of work and Sunday is a race, but I’d be hopeful that she’ll be able to do herself justice.”

Andrew Balding will saddle the consistent See The Fire, while there is a strong Irish hand including Aidan O’Brien’s January, son Joseph’s Irish Oaks runner-up Wemightakedlongway and Blandford Stakes one-two, Jessica Harrington’s Barnavara and Paddy Twomey’s One Look.

The later will sport cheekpieces on this occasion with Richard Brown, racing adviser for her owners Wathnan Racing, saying: “The race at the Curragh probably didn’t suit her, but in a funny way that might have done us a favour with this in mind.

“She’s come out of that in great form. She just hits a flat spot so we’re going to put a pair of cheekpieces on her to help her get through that.”