BOTH Charles O'Brien's Parade Sauvage and the supplementary entry from the James Burns yard, Sugar Pride, both fly the flag for Ireland in the Group One Dubai Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in Paris tomorrow.
However, both the classy maiden Parade Sauvage (Christy Roche) and the Italian 1,000 Guineas second, Sagar Pride, for whom top French rider Olivier Peslier has been booked, appear to face stiff tasks.
Other raiders in the French 1,000 Guineas are Ed Dunlop's promising Ta Rib and Godolphin's Shawanni, but the quartet will do well to cope with Shake The Yoke.
The Elie Lellouche filly ran out a scintillating 10 length winner of the main local prep race, the Group Three Prix de la Grotte, and a repeat of that form would make her very hard to beat.
Others that are expected to go well are A Votre Saute, touted as a possible 1,000 Guineas candidate at one stage, and the unbeaten pair, Housa Dancer and True Flare.
Ashkalani, the subject of some very flattering comments in the wake of his impressive Prix de Fontainebleau win three weeks ago, can also record a home victory by holding six British raiders at bay in the Group One Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas).
The Aga Khan colt worked very well during the week and he can further enhance his lofty reputation by again mastering Eternity Range, who has reportedly thrived since his last run.
Neville Callaghan's dual Irish Group One winner Danehill Dancer and Richard Hannon's supplemented Cayman Kai, may do best of the raiders which include Don Micheletto, Kahir Almaydan, Tagula and Gothenberg.
Helissio, the impressive Prix Noailles scorer, can further enhance his French Derby credentials by maintaining his unbeaten record in the Group One Prix Lupin on the same card.
Michael Kinane is on Rome duty tomorrow when he partners the former Irish Champion Stakes hero, Cezanne, for the Godolphin team in the Group One Premio Presidente della Repubblica.
Cezanne's opponents include Clive Brittain's much travelled Needle Gun (Brett Doyle), Paul Cole's Montjoy (Richard Quinn) and the classy home performer, Slicious.
Kinane also rides local hope Beat of Drums in the Group Three Premio Melton (6f) on the same card. The Milanese flyer was a Group winner at the course last November.
Godolphin cast their net far and wide this weekend as they will also be represented by the ex Irish, Heart Lake (Yutaka Take), in the Group Two Keio Hai Spring Cup (7f) at Tokyo today.
. Aidan O'Brien will face the music at Portman Square next Thursday afternoon (May 16th) following his controversial declaration of Hotel Minella in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Given that Hotel Minella ran in the previous day's Smurfit Champion Hurdle, the gelding had only an outside chance of contesting the two mile five furlong handicap.
Consequently O'Brien will have to answer questions about the nine year old's declaration.
