Parabellum and Talismanic bid for Bastille Day celebrations

Three-year-old colt Parabellum and classy middle-distance performer Talismanic headline four Godolphin runners at Saint-Cloud, France, on Bastille Day, Friday, July 14. 

Parabellum, trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, steps up to G1 level for the 12-furlong Grand Prix de Paris following a comprehensive eight-length maiden success over the same course and distance on June 15. 

The son of Dubawi had previously finished a close second in a couple of maidens, including when going down by a short-neck in an extended 10-furlong contest at Saint-Cloud in May. 

His nine rivals include G2 Prix Hocquart scorer Ice Breeze and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Permian, who won the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Parabellum won his maiden over the same course and distance and is in good order at the moment.

“It is a big step up to G1 level but he has shown a decent level of form on all three of his starts so far.

“We are hopeful that he can run well but he is an exciting horse for the future whatever happens here.”

Andre Fabre and Mickael Barzalona also team up with Talismanic, who races over a mile and six furlongs for the first time in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil following several good efforts over shorter distances. 

The four-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt, fifth in last season’s Grand Prix de Paris, has gained three Listed wins over a mile and a half and went down by a neck to Silverwave on his latest outing in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, also over 12 furlongs, at Chantilly on June 4. 

The nine runners for the Prix Maurice de Nieuil include Italian G2 winner Full Drago, and the 2015 Prix du Cadran victor Mille Et Mille. 

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin added: “Talismanic is a very straightforward horse, who always tries his hardest. 

“He seems to enjoy running at Saint-Cloud and ground on the softer side of good will suit him well. 

“We are looking forward to seeing how he gets on over this distance.”

The 12-furlong Listed Prix de Thiberville for three-year-old fillies features course and distance winner Lady Montdore (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) and Agathonia (Henri-Alex Pantall/Pierre-Charles Boudot), who took a Lingfield Park maiden by seven lengths earlier this season.