Ghaiyyath wins Prix d’Harcourt at Longchamp with Prix Ganay likely next target
Ghaiyyath (tipped on here Friday evening) showed his opponents a clean pair of heels on his seasonal debut in the 1m2f G2 Prix d’Harcourt, the feature of the opening Longchamp fixture of 2019 on Sunday. William Buick rode the lightly-raced son of Dubawi as if defeat was out of the question bowling along in front from the off and slowly but surely upping the tempo throughout. The colt was simply out of sight of the rest turning in and Buick was able to ease Godolphin’s four-year-old right down with just under a furlong to go; the official length-and-a-half winning distance giving no indication of just how easily he won.
This was only his fifth start, now four victories to his name and Charlie Appleby is very keen about future prospects.
He said: “I am delighted with that performance – he is a horse with a future. He is another Dubawi who has improved from three to four. He had G3 success as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old and now has won a G2. There is an exciting year ahead for him. We have always been excited by this horse and he was a Derby prospect last year before having a setback. He has wintered well in Dubai. Ghaiyyath is a very strong galloper. If something could go faster than him, then we would let them go on, but nothing can give him a lead because he is such a strong traveller. Softer conditions will suit him better and we will probably work backwards from the Arc if His Highness Sheikh Mohammed would like to do that.”
The G1 Prix Ganay (28 April) at Longchamp is the possible next target. Paddy Power quoted 16-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after this performance. I have had a small each-way investment at that price as this colt looks good (as I've been saying for a while) so fingers crossed he stays fit and well and let's face it nine times out of ten it'll be on the soft side at Longchamp in October.