Menuisier backing Sunway to make Cadran impact

David Menuisier is giving Sunway another chance to prove his staying prowess in Saturday’s Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.

The Group One-winning two-year-old was placed in the Irish Derby and the St Leger at three, but is now on a winless streak dating back to his top-level success in France in October 2023.

He finished a creditable fourth when upped to two miles for the first time in the Goodwood Cup and hopes were high ahead of his latest outing in last month’s Doncaster Cup, but bold front-running tactics backfired as he weakened rapidly in the straight and finished tailed off.

Menuisier’s charge now has his stamina tested over two and a half miles in the first of eight Group Ones across two days on the Bois de Boulogne and the trainer is confident of an improved performance.

The Pulborough-based Frenchman said: “At Doncaster he went too fast, so it’s hard to read anything into that and his previous run at Deauville didn’t go according to plan. I hope for once to have luck on our side.

“The main question mark is staying the trip, which would apply to all of them really, and I think he’s the class horse of the race.

“I’m never really worried about the ground with him as he literally goes on anything from firm to heavy.

“He’s a really good horse and doesn’t get the credit he deserves. I would say the horse has every chance to do something on Saturday as long as everything goes according to plan – and he deserves it.”

Sunway is part of a strong raiding party in the Cadran, with Andrew Balding’s pair of Coltrane and stablemate Alsakib, the Brian Ellison-trained Tashkhan and George Scott’s Caballo De Mar also in the mix.

The latter was one of several supplementary entries earlier this week, having won the German St Leger only a fortnight ago.

“We feel like the horse is in great form and deserves a crack at this sort of race,” said Scott.

“We were very pleased with what he did in Germany and he tries extremely hard, so he should handle the ground.

“We’re unsure if he will stay that extended distance but he got the Chester Cup trip really well off a pretty strong pace, albeit in a handicap.

“Weighing everything up, it was well worth paying the supplementary fee and taking our chance.”

The other Group One on Saturday’s card is the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, which sees Francis-Henri Graffard’s Latakia bid for her fourth win from five competitive starts in the Juddmonte silks.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon said: “She’s a lovely, big filly who didn’t get to the track at two or three with a few injuries, but we always held her in high regard.

“The owners very sportingly decided to keep her in training as an unraced four-year-old, which is something you don’t see very often. I think everyone felt she had huge potential and luckily she hasn’t looked back all year.

“She looked good when winning the Group Two the last day and Francis has been very happy with her, she is training very well and feels the distance will suit her well.

“The ground is a little bit of an unknown and she hasn’t encountered anything other than good ground thus far, but she’s a beautiful filly and one we’re very much looking forward to seeing her in Group One company.”

The British contingent in the one-mile-six-furlong contest includes the William Haggas-trained Santorini Star and Sir Mark Prescott’s Consent, who renew rivalry after finishing first and second respectively in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Santorini Star is part-owned by Tony Bloom, whose racing manager Sean Graham said: “All credit to William Haggas and his staff, because they have been very patient with this horse from day one. She never raced until the October of her three-year-old career and has been a real slow burner.

“Tom (Marquand) was very complimentary about her after she won at Doncaster. She looked beaten but kept digging in and finding more. She’s a filly with plenty of guts.

“I don’t think we would want it too soft as she’s a very good-moving filly, but she goes there with a chance and will hopefully give a good account of herself.”

Joseph O’Brien saddles both Tennessee Stud and Emit in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay, while the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein features O’Brien’s Princess Child, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah and the Ralph Beckett-trained and Juddmonte-owned Qirat, who followed his shock 150-1 victory in the Sussex Stakes with fifth in the City of York.

Of Qirat, Mahon added: “He’s in great form and came through his York run well. Ralph has given him a little freshen up since then and I think back to a mile on ground with a bit of ease in it will suit him well.

“It looks a nice race for him and he’s the only Group One winner in it, hence he’s carrying a bit of a penalty, but his form is the standout form in the race and we would be hopeful of a bold showing.”