Group One Prix Du Jockey Club Guide 2022

A smart 2 year old last season, Vadeni struck at listed level over a mile before finding group 2 level out of his reach. Despite being sent off the 2/5 favourite for a race over 9 furlongs he was pretty easily beaten by El Bodegon.

The son of Churchill came back to racing in April of this year for his classic campaign but shaped like he needed his first outing and was well held in 5th at group 3 level behind an impressive Welwal.

Last seen bouncing back to form over 9 furlongs, he handily took a group 3 event to beat Machete. It only took hands and heels to push him clear of the field and he certainly looks like the extra furlong here holds no fears.

Not heavily campaigned as a 2 year old, Al Hakeem only made two outings last season. Beaten on his debut over a mile on deep ground despite being a warm favourite, he used to experience gained to finish the season with a win on the all weather.

A pleasing reappearance at a low level sam him win handily over a mile before a highly impressive victory over 10 furlongs in listed company last time out.

He has to step up again today however but at least proved last time out that he gets the trip with ease.

A quiet campaign last season didn’t see Welwal go for any lofty targets but he acquitted himself well to racing. Running over 7.5 furlongs to a mile, he gained two victories last season and finished 2nd in his only defeat.

Despite a slightly disappointing outing over 9 furlongs on seasonal comeback, he bounced back to form with a tight group 3 win over a mile. Getting the better of his rival late on to lead at the line.

Last seen contesting the French 2000 Guineas, he looked totally outpaced over a mile by better opposition but shaped well to finish 6th of 15.

Going further looks like it’ll suit him now but he has to show he has the quality for a group one.

An English raider for Andrew Balding, Imperial Fighter scored a good maiden race at Goodwood last season before some real smart efforts in group company.

Beaten by Royal Patronage in a group 3 at York, he was then beaten by an impressive Coroebus at Newmarket. Seemingly not handling soft ground at Doncaster in the Vertem Futurity he only managed 5th in group 1 company on his last outing of the season.

Life hasn’t been straight forward as a 3 year old. He was a beaten favourite over a mile at listed level on return but did shape a lot better in the Irish 2000 Guineas to be a staying on 3rd.

This trip should suit and he ran a stormer last time out. Serious place claims.

Kept in low level races as a 2 year old, Onesto scored over a mile before being beaten by Welwal over 7.5 furlongs. His only two outings as a juvenile. Nothing major to bring to the table but pleasing enough.

Bumping into Welwal again on seasonal comeback, he found himself well beaten by that rival over a mile but left that firmly behind him when scoring handsomely over 10 furlongs last time out to secure group 2 honours.

He hit the line hard last time out and looks to have bundles of stamina. He needs to show he has the class to keep the pace in this deeper contest though.

Highly tried last season to break his maiden, Mister Saint Paul had five outings before he finally found himself in the winner’s enclosure.

Kept at a mile throughout his juvenile campaign after a debut loss over 7 furlongs, he finally found his feet on deep ground at the end of the season to score nicely in a listed race.

He was unable to pick up the winning thread immediately as a 3 year old and was beaten at listed level on come back over a mile. However with that run under his belt he bounced back nicely and scored a group 3 next time out over 9 furlongs.

Unable to uphold that form, he was beaten last time out and looked a little one paced on quicker ground. He needs the heavens to open for him to have a real chance here.

A seriously impressive 2 year old for Charlie Appleby, Modern Games broke his maiden in style before moving on into handicap company with ease.

Pulling apart a group 3 over 7 furlongs off the back of that, Appleby took his charge over to America for the Breeders Cup and saw his Dubawi Colt blow the field away with a dazzling display over a mile.

Aimed at the French 2000 Guineas for his come back run, Modern Games justified favouritism to romp home to a comfortable victory. Stepping up in trip looks to be within his grasp and he could easily do the French Classic double.

Despite losing his debut when a warm favourite, The Acropolis won his next outing in fine fashion under Ryan Moore to break his maiden easily. Despite looking a serious talent though, his form petered out in stronger races through the season.

Being unable to get seriously involved in races over 6 and 7 furlongs in group company, he signed out his juvenile season with just the one win.

His return to action this season saw him shape well in listed company over 7 furlongs but he looked well outclassed when brushed aside by Modern Games in the French 2000 Guineas.

He needs a revival from this longer trip to have a chance.

After a couple of opening runs in the UK for James Ferguson, El Bodegon scored in a novice over 7 furlongs nicely, showing he handled deep ground well.

Brought over to France for his last few runs of the season, he couldn’t lie up over 7 furlongs on faster ground in group 3 company but when taken up in trip his form hit new heights. Easily winning a group 3 over 9 furlongs he then took group 1 honours at the end of the season in style over 10 furlongs.

Well fancied for the Dante Stakes on his most recent outing, he looked to struggle on fast ground and only beat one rival home.

Connections will be hoping for plenty of rainfall to give him a chance and he can certainly get involved based on his smart form last season.

Only seen once as a 2 year old, Lassaut was a beaten favourite right at the end of last year. Given the experience and a short break, he returned over a mile as a 3 year old and quickly notched up a brace of wins in low grade company.

With the wins in the bag over 8 furlongs, he was sent for the French 2000 Guineas and ran well to be 5th. Staying on well he got going too late to get involved in the finish. Shaping like this step up in trip will really suit.

He needs to prove he’s got the quality but the extra distance should draw some improvement out.

Unable to win as a 2 year old in his two outings, Machete has fared far better as a 3 year old and looks to have matured over the winter.

Despite being beaten over a mile on his first run of the season he bounced back with a nice performance to score over 9.5 furlongs and break his maiden. Sent up in grade off the back of that saw him secure listed honours on the all weather with ease.

Switching back to turf has seen his form dip however. Beaten in group 3 company by Mister Saint Paul and then again by Vadeni. He needs to prove he can be as effective on turf and has form to reverse with rivals here.

A busy 2 year old for Andre Fabre last season, Ancient Rome got off the mark at the second time of asking and quickly racked up a nice hat trick of wins.

Scoring at group 3 level over a mile with plenty in hand, he just failed to step down in trip and up in grade in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Angel Bleu got the better of him again at the end of the season, however he got much closer to his rival over a mile.

Things haven’t gone to plan this season and he’s been beaten on both outings. No match for Welwal at Longchamp over a mile and then a fading 4th in the French 2000 Guineas. Going further could suit but he looks to be held on form by those rivals for now.

It’s taken Vagalame five attempts to break his maiden. Seen twice as a 2 year old he shaped well enough but never really threatened to score a win.

He came back in some better form this season, going close on debut and agonisingly close on his next outing to only be beaten a nose over 10 furlongs. Sent over slightly further last time out saw him get off the mark. However, he’s stepping up majorly in grade and doesn’t look to be of the class for this group one.

A singular outing as a juvenile ended in defeat but hinted at some promise.

Off the track for nearly 200 days off the back of that, Yoozuna broke his maiden in fine fashion over 10 furlongs and backed that up in novice company next time out. Moved up into listed company off the back of that, he was no match for the impressive Al Hakeem.

Moving up in grade again will likely expose him further.

A son of Galileo, Ivy League only made his debut this season and didn’t make an outing as a 2 year old.

Beaten over 7 furlongs at the Curragh on debut in a big field, moving up to a mile saw him break his maiden on the all weather. Moved into handicaps off the back of that, he scored again at a relatively low level but doing so handsomely.

Taken to group level off the back of that, he just failed to justify favouritism and finished 2nd. Last seen in the Irish 2000 Guineas, he looked outclassed over a mile and finished 7th of the 9 runners.

Going further looks like it will suit but his ability will be tested to the max.