by Desmond Stoneham

Another high class meeting is set for Longchamp on Sunday and features the Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) and the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-G1).

Both these races have attracted small but interesting fields, and there are two outstanding performers in the d’Ispahan.

The Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s Darjina continues her distinguished career in the 2,000 meter (9.94 furlong) event, and she will again meet Godolphin’s Literato.

At the end of March, Darjina ran a brave second to Jay Peg in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad al Sheba but Literato disappointed when finishing 12th.

Darjina is unbeaten in three races at Longchamp. Last year the Zamindar filly lifted the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1) (French One Thousand Guineas) before an untimely downpour ruined her chance in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. She was back on form at Deauville at the beginning of August when picking up the Prix d’Astarte (Fr-G1), and her most impressive success last year came when she thrashed Ramonti and George Washington (Ire) in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1).

Bought by Godolphin after his victory in the Emirates Airline Stakes (GB G1) at Newmarket, Literato also had fine record during 2007. Second in the Prix du Jockey- Club Mitsubishi Motors (Fr-G1) (French Derby), he came with an astonishing late run to win the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano Haras d’Etreham (Fr-G2) at Deauville in August. He then outclassed the opposition in the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Fr-G3) at this track before his trip to England

Coolmore is sponsoring the Saint-Alary for the third year and they might recover their investment as Gagnoa will have one of the leading chances. She was bought by Ireland’s leading stud after winning the Prix des Reservoirs (Fr-G3) at Deauville last October and moved to Andre Fabre’s stable at Chantilly. The Sadler’s Wells filly paid an immediate dividend as she lifted the Prix Penelope (Fr-G3) at Saint-Cloud in April.

The reputation of Montjeu (Ire) could be further boosted if Albisola ends up in the winner’s enclosure. She is owned and bred by Gerry Oldham whose famous colours were mainly put on the map by Sagaro who landed three straight wins in the Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1) in the 1970s. Albisola made a highly promising seasonal debut when winning the Prix Finlande at Longchamp last month.

Strictly on form, Khalid Abdullah’s Proviso should be first past the post. She first caught the eye at Deauville last August after winning the Prix du Calvados and was then a very unlucky runner-up in the Meon Valley Fillies Mile (Eng-G1) at Ascot. The filly was probably a little backward in the Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3) where she could only manage third.

Desmond Stoneham is a France-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent