Forceful Pao Alto looks decidedly smart

THERE should be no doubt as to which of the three-year-old Group 3s at Longchamp last Thursday week was the stronger: Pao Alto looked a decidedly smart performer in landing the Prix la Force in a time nearly 2.0s quicker than Magic Attitude did in winning the Prix Vanteaux for fillies, and with late splits that were nearly as quick into the bargain.

The former, representing the same owner as the previous year’s winner Shaman (Werthemier brothers), gets a 110 sectionally adjusted rating, while runner-up Ocean Atlantique (who had cost over a million euros at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale) shaped encouragingly in second with a 105 figure. Both promise to stay beyond this nine furlongs. Even with a bit of creative handicapping, Magic Attitude cannot be rated higher than 103, so she may do well to win at this level again.

The times at Chantilly on Wednesday last and this Monday both indicated ground a fair bit quicker than the official “good to soft”, even after allowing for what may be some questionable race distances.

Wooded looked a fine prospect in winning the Group 3 Prix Texanita by a wide margin for a sprinter on the former occasion and might usually be talked of as a strong candidate for the Commonwealth Cup or Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. His time was solid, and a figure of 112 suggests more will be heard of him.

It may have appeared that Pretreville stole the Prix Bertrand du Breuil but the sectionals refute that, for all that some of his rivals may be better another day.

The winner gets a 114 assessment, with third-placed Skalleti 105 here but left on 117 for the future.