Group 1 Flat action takes place at Chantilly on Sunday and Persian King is one of the star acts lining up in the Prix d’Ispahan, although he will face stern opposition from a quintet of British raiders.
The son of Kingman registered a first success since last year’s French 2,000 Guineas when holding off the strong challenge of Pretreville to land the Group 2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud last month.
Taking Persian King on are the British runners Roseman, Century Dream, Stormy Antarctic, Pogo and Positive. Century Dream caught the eye at Newbury last month when he secured the Group 3 Diomed Stakes and is contesting Group 1 company for the first time since finishing seventh to King Of Change in last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes II.
The field is completed by Shaman and Motamarris.
After the defection of Nando Parrado from the Prix Robert Papin, a field of four has been left to contest the Group 2 and the race looks at the mercy of the Michael Bell-trained, Qatar Racing-owned The Lir Jet.
Racing is also staged at York, Newbury, Southwell, Curragh (Ireland) and Tipperary (Ireland) on Sunday.
