Move In Time
The Prix du Petit Couvert run at Longchamp on Sunday is often a good pointer to the Prix de l'Abbaye, and Move In Time ran out a good winner of the race.
David O'Meara's horse was well drawn in stall three, and he did have the run of the race, just behind the pace in a race in which the pace held up well and along the favoured near rail. He never had to leave the rail, Gengis conveniently never got onto the near rail, and that allowed Move In Time move up on the near side.
That said, he won well, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best horse in the race. He travelled well just behind the pace, he picked up nicely when Daniel Tudhope asked him to, and he ran all the way to the line to win by more than a length, with two lengths between Gengis and the third horse Mirza, who beat Move In Time in this race last year.
The Monsieur Bond gelding loves Longchamp. He was second in a Group 3 race in May 2013 on his first run at the track, he was just a half a length behind Mirza in this race last year on his second, and he sprang a 25/1 shock in last year's Prix de l'Abbaye on his third. This was his fourth run at Longchamp, so his record now reads 2211. This run should have set him up for the Abbaye this year. You can be sure that David O'Meara has been training him all season with a view to having him at his peak on the first Sunday in October. The Abbaye is obviously always a hot race, the draw is crucial and this year's race looks particularly strong with Mecca's Angel setting a high standard. Even so, it is surprising that you can still back Move In Time at 12/1 for it, given that the race has surely been his target for the last 12 months.
13th September 2015
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