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VICKI GIBBINS’ CHRONICLE
FLYING FIVE RESULT PROVIDES OPPOR- TUNITY FOR FINAL HURRAH IN PARIS
An open sprinting division in the UK and Ireland has led to an exciting end-of-season hurrah in the Prix de l’ Abbaye( Gr. 1), where the best of the European sprinters could battle for the final time. From American Affair’ s victory in the King Charles III Stakes( Gr. 1) to a breakthrough Group 1 success for Big Mojo in the Haydock Sprint Cup( Gr. 1), the 1000m category in Britain and Ireland has been an open affair with no stand-out performer. It has allowed for some exciting battles and excellent narratives: Lazzat dominating the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes( Gr. 1) at Royal Ascot for France to No Half Measures’ surprise success in the July Cup( Gr. 1). Australia was even able to get involved, with Henry Dwyer’ s Asfoora returning to her sparkling best with a devastating performance in the Nunthorpe Stakes( Gr. 1) at York. Irish Champions Weekend was an opportunity for one of these speedsters to establish their position at the top of the rankings with victory in the Flying Five Stakes( Gr. 1) and it was an excellent renewal of the contest. Longchamp winner Mgheera, the consistent Night Raider and a revitalised Asfoora were all looking for a chance to enhance their reputations, yet it was another newcomer – Arizona Blaze – who added his name to the list of sprinters achieving a first Group 1 in 2025. The Adrian Murray-trained three-year-old had participated in all of the best sprint races during the campaign already, finishing an excellent second behind Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup( Gr. 1) and defeating Mgheera in the Sapphire Stakes( Gr. 2) at the Curragh on his return to 1000m. The Flying Five represented a well-deserved landmark Group 1 for the son of Sergei Prokofiev and owner Kia Joorabchian described the feeling perfectly, saying:“ I’ m so happy for this guy( Arizona Blaze) and I’ m emotional about it because he deserves it. He’ s been just beaten in Group One races and today was his day.“ They have never lost belief in him even when he’ s run so-so. He’ s so tough.” Whilst Arizona Blaze is set to skip Longchamp in favour of a return to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, the familiar cast of characters are expected to reunite in Paris for one last chance at a European sprint Group 1. Could it be Mgheera’ s chance, returning to the scene of her Prix Saint-Georges success? Is it an opportunity for Australian star Asfoora to add another Group 1, achieving top-flight success in three different countries? An opening for the consistent Irish filly She’ s Quality to give young trainer Jack Davison a landmark Group 1? Or will it be JM Jungle’ s day, for a father-and-son team who took the race with Highfield Princess in 2023? Either way, we’ re in for a thriller of a Prix de l’ Abbaye.
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GLOBAL ECONOMY
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IGOR DE MAACKS CHRONICLE
DISQUALIFIED
As Donald Trump has just dismissed Lisa Cooks, one of the seven governors of the U. S. Federal Reserve, Prime Minister François Bayrou has self-disqualified by calling for a vote of confidence in the National Assembly that was doomed from the outset. French public debt with a 10-year maturity is now trading at a level close to that of our Italian neighbor, like the photo finish of a horse race. The French interest rate has in fact risen by 40 basis points since the June low. Financial markets, slowly but surely, will put a price on the political and economic uncertainty that has now become chronic, as
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