Ancient Rome Up Against Ebro River in Lagardere

Andre Fabre has not run many in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium, G1) in recent years, but it is notable when he does because his three runners in the last decade have resulted in two winners and a second.

Fabre had Territories  take the runner-up spot in 2014 and has since been successful with Ultra , who landed it in 2015, and Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) winner Victor Ludorum  in 2019.

All three were owned by Godolphin, but Fabre's representative in the Oct. 3 race at ParisLongchamp this year, Ancient Rome , carries the colors of Michael Tabor and most of his siblings were trained by Aidan O'Brien.

It has been 16 years since the Coolmore partners teamed up with Fabre for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (G1) success with Hurricane Run and he wasn't a precocious juvenile. Could Ancient Rome be their next star?

"He would be better over an extra furlong but this gives him a chance to prep for either Saint-Cloud (the Criterium International, G1) or the Breeders' Cup. He's in very good form," Fabre said.

The Lagardere will award the winner a berth in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.

Ebro River  definitely falls into the precocious juvenile category and the son of Galileo Gold  confirmed that when landing the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) at the Curragh in August. 

He was only one pound below that form, judged on Racing Post Ratings, when third in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) over this seven-furlong trip at the Curragh last time and that suggests he probably stayed the trip. However, he set the pace that day and lost places late, shaping as if he wasn't strong over it.

It may be that he is more effective over sprint distances, but we should find out for sure here.

Stone Age  will definitely stay and the three-race maiden drops to seven furlongs for the first time in his career. All his runs so far have come over a mile or further, but he doesn't lack speed.

He is trainer O'Brien's only runner in the race and the Irishman is only 1-11 in the last 10 seasons. However, Gleneagles  would have made it two but for being disqualified in 2014.

Ebro River Primed to End Palmer's Drought

Hugo Palmer is battling with a dreaded bout of seconditis, but what better place to end that spell than in a group 1 race worth €400,000.

The Newmarket trainer fields Ebro River, the likely favorite as the only one of the nine runners to have won at group 1 level. He outbattled Dr Zempf  to win the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh before returning to the track with a fine four-length third with only the two market leaders for next year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Native Trail  and Point Lonsdale , in front of him.

Palmer, who has endured five seconds and a third since his last success 19 days ago, trained subsequent Guineas hero Galileo Gold to finish third in this race in 2015. Now his star son Ebro River has a fine opportunity. 

"We're looking forward to it, he's got a nice draw and seven furlongs at the Curragh is very different to seven furlongs at Longchamp," the trainer said.

"He was absolutely fine on soft ground earlier in the year, all we know is he doesn't want it very firm. We'll try and go two better than his dad."

He added: "We haven't had too many runners of late and sometimes you go through these frustrating periods, but the horse is in great form, so we're very happy."