Only five horses in the last eight editions of the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) have finished in the top three horses with a double-digit draw, and four of those winners have come from box five or lower.
That will make this year's Oct. 2 Sprint a tempting prospect for draw entrants, as only one of the top eight in the lodging market comes from the bottom five, and that's the way it is Teresa Mendoza who will compete against men. The Ken Condon-trained filly was running the best race of her career when she fell to second with a neck blow I'm busy last time at Newbury and is two pounds better off with this rival. Combine that with her better draw – Mitbaahy is ranked 15th – and Teresa Mendoza is likely to switch places.
“Teresa Mendoza comes here with the best performance of her career and the owner decided for sporting reasons to let her take advantage of her opportunity,” said Condon. “She has a nice draw and looks to be in great shape so we’re hoping for a substantial run.”
Irish-trained sprinters have won two of the last ten editions of the race, including last year's winner A case of yours . However, he came from stable five 12 months ago and retired at 19 this season. Maarek was the other Irish winner and he came from stall seven, the place from which he was the overnight favorite The Platinum Queen will show up on Sunday.
As a youthful filly facing both males and older horses, Platinum Queen's chance seems to rely on her getting all the advantages from the older horses, and she couldn't quite take advantage of a similar situation at Nunthorpe. However, there are none Highfield Princess In this lineup, she could have the speed to go to the rail.
The shape of her second to Trillium However, she suffered a setback at Doncaster when that rival was well fended off at Cheveley Park in Newmarket last week, so she may need to improve again.
The last word must go Berneuil who last month won the main test of this race, the Prix du Petit Couvert, over course and distance for the second time in a row. Last year he couldn't keep up from 14 and this time he had no luck again when he drew 18.
Many have tried and none had managed it for 44 years, but the betting suggests this could be the day another two-year-old beats his elders and wins the Abbaye.
Every teenage runner has been beaten since Sigy scored an impressive goal for Freddy and Criquette Head in 1978, although Superstar Leo and Kingsgate Native finished second among the 16 runners who had tried since the turn of the century. However, Platinum Queen has proven herself against older horses, beating all but Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.
The speedy filly is owned by Middleham Park Racing, whose race director Tim Palin said: “She ran the Flying Childers very well and was unlucky – she was ahead a yard from the finish line and a yard after. This four-furlongs-and-213 yards plays it at home and the race usually suits prominent racers and those drawn in the single digits.
“It’s an open race but she’s probably in the best form of behind schedule, coming second to a world-class mare at York.”
The Prix de l'Abbaye is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) on November 5th Keenleand.
