Andrew Balding sent Highland Knight to Germany in August and the five-year-old had no difficulty beating today's rival Dux Scholar in a Group 2. This looks tougher, however, and SARKIYLA, who picked up nicely to land a Group 3 at Deauville before finding Group 1 company in the Prix Du Moulin over the C&D beyond her, is given the nod as this could be her level and her allowances give her an edge. Mainsail hasn't been seen since a disappointing defeat here in June while Zinabaa, who has a Group 2 penalty for his victory at Saint-Cloud in May, was well beaten in this a year ago though that looked a stronger renewal. Evaporation was behind in that Saint-Cloud event and also in last year's renewal.
Zinabaa (FR) 4-1 (9-2) 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Vagabond Shoes (8-11) at Chantilly(FR) 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in Jun.
Highland Knight (IRE) (9-0) won at Baden-Baden(GER) 1m Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Lucayan (FR) 9-2 (9-2) 5th of 8, 5l behind Starboard (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep.
Dux Scholar (9-0) 2nd of 11 Highland Knight (9-0) at Baden-Baden(GER) 1m Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Mainsail (8-11) 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind So Beautiful (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun.
Tifongo (FR) 16-1 (8-10) 8th of 14, 6l behind Fractional (8-10) at Deauville(FR) 1m Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Evaporation (FR) 11-4 (8-8) 3rd of 10, 2l behind Vagabond Shoes (8-11) at Chantilly(FR) 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in Jun.
Sarkiyla (FR) 12-1 (8-8) 3rd of 4, 6l behind Moonlight Cloud (8-12) at Longchamp(FR) 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Sep.