Untapped Talent: The three-year-olds to watch out for in France

Hidaka (rated 91p)

Hidaka was a comfortable winner of her only race as a two-year-old, a newcomers' event over a mile at Deauville in August by a length and three quarters from Tamahere, after leading under two furlongs out. Of Hidaka’s eight opponents, three of them won next time, including the runner-up who went on to finish third to Pao Alto in a listed race at Bordeaux. Hidaka is by Deep Impact and is bred to be suited by at least a mile and a quarter. She is the first foal of the Freddy Head-trained Royalmania, who in 2013 was successful in the same race as Hidaka before going on to show useful form at three and four years as well as at two, winning a couple of listed races at nine furlongs. Royalmania’s year younger half-sister, Queen’s Jewel, won the Prix Saint-Alary in 2015 and that race features as one Hidaka’s future engagements. Andre Fabre

The perfect debut – by Deep Impact and from a lovely family, Hidaka stretches clear professionally to win first-time-out under @MaxSamGuyon for André Fabre at @fgdeauville… pic.twitter.com/Emop57lA6w

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 20, 2019

Icatcher (rated 87p)

ICatcher had more in hand than the quarter-of-a-length margin suggests when successful in an eight-runner maiden at Lyon Parilly last October. Although needing some driving before leading just inside the final furlong, he was idling in front as Harmysian finished strongly to take second. Harmysian went on to win a similar event next time, as did the next two home, Woot City and Go With The Wind. By Manduro, Icatcher is the fourth produce of Indyca, and all three previous foals have won, notably the smart French-trained Indyco (by Rio de la Plata), who was runner-up in the All-Weather Mile Championships at Lingfield last year. Alex Pantall

Jeri (rated 89p)

Jeri finished seven lengths clear of the third-placed horse in a newcomers' race on heavy ground at Fontainebleau last November, but couldn’t quite contain the Magnier/Tabor/Smith-owned Measure of Time and was caught in the final fifty yards, going down by a short neck after sweeping into the lead a furlong and a half out. Jeri is a son of Lawman and the first foal of Era Uma Vez, a fairly useful handicapper in France who was successful twice at up to 1m7½f. While Measure of Time looks sure to go on to better things, Jeri is likely to fly more under the radar and should have no trouble winning a race or two. Mikel Delzangles

Khayzaraan (rated 106p)

Khayzaraan was only ninth on her debut at Deauville last July, but she received a couple of bumps and did well to make up a fair amount of ground from last place inside the final two furlongs. She progressed really well after that and landed the odds on both her subsequent outings, looking a smart prospect. The first of those wins was gained in a maiden on the same course a month later, when she proved to be in a different league to her opponents, taking over in the lead off the home turn and quickening clear, crossing the line nine lengths ahead of Black Fever, who won a similar race at Saint-Cloud next time. Khayzaraan was no less impressive when beating La Montagne Sainte by four and a half lengths in a six-runner minor event at Chantilly in September, making most of the running and being far too strong once shaken up inside the final two furlongs. The final time was 1.41 seconds faster than Victor Ludorum’s winning time over the same trip in the race before. By Kingman, Khayzaraan is a half-sister to the very smart Prix de Meautry and Prix du Petit Couvert winner Tantheem (by Teofilo) and the 1m4½f winner Murafrif (by Sea The Stars). Their dam, Riqa, was a useful French 7½f (at two) and mile winner and runner-up in three listed races, and comes from the family of the Prix Jacques le Marois winner Tamayuz and the Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue. Freddy Head

Remember the name! Kingman filly Khayzaraan absolutely destroys the opposition in devastating fashion on her second start under @lemaitre60LA for Freddy Head at @fgdeauville… pic.twitter.com/NdWuiCdS9R

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 23, 2019

Mare Australis (rated 81p)

Mare Australis was a cosy winner of his only start last year – a seven-runner maiden over a mile at Munich in November, when all bar one of the runners were making their debuts. Mare Australis took time to find his stride but got a good run up the inner to pass the leader Soul Dancer and was well on top by the line as Zamrud grabbed second off Soul Dancer near the finish, the trio having the rest well strung out. Mare Australis is by the Derby/Irish Derby/International winner Australia out of Miramare, who won a maiden in Germany before showing useful form at middle distances in Britain. Transferred from Jean-Paul Carvalho to Andre Fabre over the winter, Mare Australis will be suited by a step up in trip and looks sure to improve. Andre Fabre

Moujik (rated 96p)

Moujik won a nine-runner newcomers' race at Toulouse last October by half a length from Waltham, leading inside the final furlong and holding the runner-up at bay. The form has worked out well, with his opponents notching up eleven wins between them since. Notable among them is Waltham, who has progressed into a smart performer, winning all three of his subsequent starts, including a listed race at Saint-Cloud in March from the Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Mkfancy.  Moujik’s only elder sibling, Volskha (by Le Havre) won twice at around 1m2½f, including a listed race in France. Their dam Balashkova was a winner over a mile as a two-year-old and was twice a creditable fourth in listed races in France. Jean-Claude Rouget

Roberto Mount (rated 94p)

Roberto Mount narrowly won both his starts over 7½ furlongs on the polytrack at Deauville late last year. He had to show a good attitude each time, getting home by a head from Alfareeq in a thirteen-runner newcomers' event in late-November, the pair finishing five lengths clear, and then by a short head from Lindy Lou after a similarly strong challenge from the runner-up in the final furlong just over three weeks later. The form of his debut success worked out well with three of the next four home winning their next outing, the only one not to do so being beaten a short neck at Chantilly. By the Diamond Jubilee/July Cup winner Lethal Force, Roberto Mount is a half-brother to numerous winners, notably the high-class European sprinter Overdose (by Starborough). Roberto Mount’s dam, Our Poppet, ran only once, but she is out of the St Simon Stakes winner Upend.  Rodolphe Collet