Laurent Barbarin

Published 9.19 - all selections online

Following a superb Sunday of racing at Saint-Cloud, the good action continues at Chantilly this Monday, with two Group 3s and three Listed contests on an attractive card, live Sky Sports Racing.

Race 1 at 11:00am is the Listed Grand Prix du Nord, a race for three-year-olds over a mile and a quarter. In this eight-runner field, DARZAKIR, a gelding by Zelzal owned by the Aga Khan Studs and trained by Mikel Delzangles looks a particularly tempting proposition.

Unplaced on his only start at two, he was subsequently gelded and did not return to action until August this year, when he landed a nine-furlong maiden at Clairefontaine by half a length. The runner-up has since gone on to win a maiden himself, giving that form a timely boost.

Darzakir then finished second in a Class 3 contest over the same distance at Dieppe on 9 September, going down by just a short-head despite a strong and eye-catching finish. Delzangles's charge took another significant step forward on 8 October, landing a competitive Quinté handicap over a mile and a quarter at Saint-Cloud on soft ground. He won impressively, earning an 11lb rise in the handicap for that success.

With just four starts under his belt, Darzakir appears to be coming into his own at this stage of the season. His latest victory suggested there could be considerably more to come, and he could have the potential to develop into a Group-class performer in time. This Listed assignment looks a logical next step before the winter break.

Trained by a patient handler, he should continue to improve with experience. Alongside the German-trained Daytona, he is one of the least exposed runners in the field, and his progressive profile makes him an appealing betting proposition.

My second selection of the day comes in Race 7 at 14:40, a mile handicap for three-year-olds and upwards on the all-weather track. In a competitive 12-runner field, SPEEDY GREEN makes plenty of appeal.

The four-year-old gelding by Zarak has won three of his 16 career starts and is trained by former jockey Davy Bonilla. His career got off to a difficult start, with five consecutive unplaced efforts in 2025, but he has since made significant progress.

He finally opened his account on his second start of the current season last February, winning a handicap over today's course and distance. After a subsequent spell of five unplaced efforts, he bounced back to land another handicap at Deauville in late June, over seven furlongs on the all-weather.

Although unplaced on his next outing, he returned to winning ways on 20 August, taking a seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap at Deauville by three-quarters of a length from Precioso, who reopposes today with a 6.5lb advantage at the weights.

However, Speedy Green produced an excellent performance off his revised mark when finishing third in a Quinté handicap over nine and a half furlongs on this course on 29 September. That longer trip may have stretched his stamina, making today's return to a more suitable distance particularly interesting.

Back over a mile and dropping in class, he looks well placed to make a bold bid. Stall 12 is far from ideal, and carrying a lot of weight is another challenge, but I remain convinced that this lad has yet to reach his full potential.

My next column will be on Wednesday 28 October, for action from Le Mans and Auteuil, two meetings shown live on Sky Sports Racing.