British Quintet Take On Persian King in Prix d'Ispahan

One of the main things to note about this year's Prix d'Ispahan (G1) July 19 is the change in conditions. It is normally run in late May at ParisLongchamp, although, like the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), it was staged at Chantilly in 2016 and 2017. That it is nearly two months late this year comes with another knock-on effect. For the first time in more than 30 years, it is open to 3-year-olds.

Only one such horse has been sent to try this year. Positive only got started for the year at Royal Ascot, finishing fourth to Palace Pier in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1), but he looked like being a leading juvenile last summer, and while there is quite a bit of speed in his pedigree, his dam's best form came over 1 1/2 miles.

"He's pleased me since Ascot, and I think the extra furlong—going up to nine from a mile—will be helpful with a view to going a mile and a quarter in time," said Positive's trainer, Clive Cox. "He was very straight and it was a muddling race, but I'm not making excuses for him. The first three pulled clear, but our best furlong was our last after being slightly tapped for toe entering the straight off that muddling pace."

Like four more of the eight runners, Positive is British-trained. Roseman even represents last year's winning connections, those of Zabeel Prince. He improved last autumn and was fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) last time, while recent improvement also crops up in the cases of Pogo and Century Dream. Only 7-year-old Stormy Antarctic, a longtime wanderer, could be confidently said to have fully shown his hand.

The market still says that the home team is likeliest to take the prize, with Persian King the warm favorite. He won last year's Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1), then found only Sottsass too strong in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (G1), which was his best effort on Racing Post Ratings. He has built up to form in two runs this year, grinding it out after making his own running over a mile last time, and the return to further should not be an issue.

Shaman is likely to make the running this time. He did just that when winning the Prix d'Harcourt (G2) in May and when finishing third in the Prix Ganay (G1). It is possible the slightly longer trip contributed last time, but it was not the full story and it is just as likely his Harcourt run, which was on resumption day, gave him a touch more credit than he is due.

"A mile and a quarter turned out to be a bit too far for him in the Ganay. Eighteen hundred meters (1 1/8 miles) looks the right trip for him, but the stable is not in great form and a few horses have been sick," said Shaman's trainer, Carlos Laffon-Parias. "That is the uncertainty because in every other respect, he has everything going for him.

Persian King Running Himself Back to Form

The Prix d'Ispahan has been the long-term goal for Persian King since returning from an injury-enforced layoff in June.

The imposing son of Kingman was on the burly side when chasing home stable companion Magny Cours in a Chantilly listed race over a mile and was given a serious workout by Pierre-Charles Boudot when making all to win the Prix du Muguet (G2) over a mile. 

Trainer Andre Fabre may have been working on Persian King's mental preparedness as much as his physical shape when taking him to Chantilly for his final breeze July 14. 

"He's had his two runs back and we're all happy with him," said Anthony Stroud, racing advisor to the Wildenstein family, who share ownership of Persian King with Godolphin. "He'd been off over a year so every race is a step forward. He's back in a group 1 with some other very good horses.

"The distance looks fine, and while we always seem to get a wide draw, with eight runners it may not make a huge difference. It's not a walk in the park. As you would expect, there are some good horses in there."