Suspected I had jinxed him. However collateral info is useful.

As I knew you were unable to sleep worrying about where a Gp1 winner was going to come from , I decided to review the candidates i.e. france-galop dbase of offspring.

Organising this in terms of known form, made me think that those at the top while tantalisingly close will likely fall short of a Gp1. I am not sure 2yos are Z's forte so am also ruling that out.

Oddly, RASHFORD would not have had to improve too much to be considered. However he was beaten on merit today. If he turned up for the Prix du Jockey Club, only pennies could be advised.

At this time, the only unbeaten Zarak in this dbase is Andre Fabre's MARQUISAT for Godolphin SNC who amazingly won on 2yo debut at Saint Cloud at the end of October. He is a big lump and while those behind have done zero for the form, he was actually just pushed out hands and heels when the penny dropped, to win handsomely.

GODOLPHIN SNC only have 3 entries in the Prix du Jock, all trained by Fabre. In addition, they have about a dozen Charlie Applebys incl Silver Knott who was 2nd to Victoria Road in the Breeders Cup Jue Turf at Keeneland. Those 2 are currently 2nd and 3rd favs on oddschecker betting for the PdJC, but are also well entered in the UK/Ire.

I think Fabre will throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn't get a shot at the race for Godolphin. So I am looking at his 3.

Birr Castle was 6th today in Rashford's race and does not look progressive.

Guet Apens won 2nd time up, again against modest opposition, but seemed more workmanlike.

THEREFORE, I am putting all the eggs in the MARQUISAT basket (Easter Sunday metaphor there). He has no upcoming entries, but is still listed as in training on Goodolphin.com. Worth keeping an eye on for me. Here is the link to his win:

https://www.france-galop.com/fr/course/detail/2022/P/RW52bXZhT2Q5V3hNYktGZThIMkdDQT09

Can't find any antepost prices including either Marquisat or Rashford at this time.

FINALLY Marquisat is out of an unraced (I think) daughter of Duke of Marmalade named LA MARCHESA. Her 2018 filly foal Luisa Casati, by Vadamos, is listed class and was 3rd, 2 weeks ago in a Listed event at Saint Cloud, beaten a tete et un nez @ 48/1. I wish I had studied earlier

AND ABSOLUTELY FINALLY, if the above Plan A does not pan out, I am a big Adlerflug fan (just had a few quid on Alter Adler to pip Haya Zark). So following German lines the Zarak colt ARCANDI  is in the PdJC and was 3rd in a Gp3 last time out. I can't forget my £2 antepost on Torquator Tasso 2 years ago @ 180/1. We nearly got ejected from the bar at Kelso races that day for singing the German National Anthem.

PRIX ZARKAVA - saw the size of the winner Pleasant Jane in the stalls and it was too late to change my bet

Watch the replay, stall 1, https://www.france-galop.com/fr/course/detail/2023/P/SHl5a3FPdWs0ZHBmQUZSWlhLdFd2UT09

That was a no contest and bodes well if MARQUISAT has got even bigger from 2 to 3 as a good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.

I've just noticed Rashford's full sister, a 4yo unraced filly called Rasca, is lot 9 for the Vente online sale April 9.. expect she'll fetch something nice with this connection.

...and Baiykara might win the Arc .. lol..

..Perhaps an entry in the Prix Greffulhe tomorrow.. ?

Best of luck to BO ZENITH in the gr. 1 hurdle at Aintree tomorrow... he'll need some luck.. and to give 7lbs to fillies is a tall order..  hope it's not too soft either..

I admit, I'd rather Tom Cannon was aboard..

Golden Maverick in the 6.00 at Southwell, such lowly fare, but I took 12/1 as he's been running over shorter and H Doyle is up..   and it's nice to see one over here..

I'm waiting on Titanium in the 3.00 at Fontainebleau..

Mr M, if you're looking in.. we were talking about Marquisat, and I notice today he has left Fabre's and been exported but I do not know where to... could you help me out at all here?  heaven help us if he's gone to Dubai..

Such a shame, I had high hopes for a French campaign..

My boy - SORTIE EN VUE D'EXPORTATION   Luckily I couldn't find a price for the Prix du Jockey Club.

Still listed as in training on Godolphin.com so I decided to take the bull by the horns and emailed them direct for news.

I reminded them that in the first Godolphin £1 million fantasy stable contest some time in the early 2000's I was lying 12th with 2 weeks to go only to get plagued by non runners. Smashed my PC so never found out where I finished

Have to console myself counting my Titanium winnings. Think the stagger was just loose ground and we may have needed to dodge a bullet had the interfered with horse been 2nd.

PPS - In Time's half sister MIXED REALITY (by Shalaa) debut in the 4.14 at fontainebleau.

Annoying not on the exchanges and at 9/1 just £1 in case she won

o/t.. but I was very impressed with American Flag in the Prix de Fontainebleau yesterday.. Soumillon seemed to be as well..

I'll be surprised if O'Brien has anything to beat that in the French Guineas..

Village Voice goes in at Navan, Listed Salsabil Stakes,  beating an O'Brien, always nice that... delighted for Mrs Harrington too, as she's not been well..
8/1 to finish first 4 as I didn't think it would be good enough today.. lucky to get a run up the inner but that was a slog..

Zarak The Brave - what a great run, he is the best 4yo hurdler in training, giving 7lbs to Lossiemouth, she had to work for that...

Zarak The Brave  [Zarak]
[Lossiemouth]
Bo Zenith  [Zarak]

..I hope he now goes to Auteuil..

Almost Mr M, but not quite.. I'll be surprised if Mosse doesn't get a suspension for that ride as he interfered with a couple in the straight..   
Marzouk fought back, on the nod really..

I was pleased with that run... Mosse, like Peslier, both a bit past it..

Yeah, lovely run by Sirjan, a horse I've really liked since his Italian win last year..  maybe a bit short of work, tired at the end, I'd like to see him in the German Derby, I think he's got some nice races to win in Germany..

Probably our only winner today Mr M...  thank you Buick.. last to first, won well..

What were they thinking of, going off in front like that,.. he ran a nice race, not beaten far really, I've always thought he was at least a gr. 2 horse..
Held up, he might have ran on late..  oh well, .. there's a good race in him to be won..

Well my 50/1 was never matched. £165 traded on Sabio @ 1.10 for the place in running.

Better hope Pleasant Jane doesn't eat Baiykara as a snack in the stalls. She is a big girl. See above.

Shillings on La Parisienne, Pleasant Jane and the Adlerflug - India.

Devasted Dettori is on Pleasant Jane.

Not sure Barzalona has covered himself in glory though.

Hope so Mr M, it would be nice to beat O'Brien again..  Rashford just lacks a finishing kick it seems to me..
Yeah Barzalona left it late, came with a wet sail.. I feel sure once she gets back up in trip there's a good race to be won with Baiykara..

Well done with India.. Adlerflug on very soft, can't go wrong can you?..

Well I've had 2 wins today at Wetherby and Le Roche Posay, crappy races at crappy tracks.. lol.. typical Zarak..

Rashford and Straight tomorrow in Germany...

off topic, not Zarak, but I hope Shavasana can make all in Rome tomorrow for the Italian 1000..  despite Vargiu going for the other one..