Prix du Moulin 2025 Preview – Runners Guide as Rosallion & Henri Matisse Meet Again in Longchamp Group 1 Mile

Sussex Stakes second and third Rosallion and Henri Matisse are among eight Anglo-Irish raiders travelling across the Channel for the €800,000 Group 1 Prix du Moulin over a mile at Longchamp in Paris on Sunday, 7 September. It’s the big race outside of the official Arc Trials that also take place on this card.

British and Irish horses have plundered valuable prizes in France throughout the campaign. Events including their 2000 Guineas and equivalent of The Derby went to the raiders earlier in the season, while the Prix Rothschild and Jacques Le Marois in this division followed suit over the summer meeting at Deauville. It gets no easier for the home team now.

Aidan O’Brien has three runners in the Prix du Moulin with French 2000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse chief among them. Joining him from Ballydoyle are fellow three-year-olds The Lion In Winter, now a regular visitor, and likely pacemaker Serengeti. Richard Hannon doesn’t bring Rosallion alone as Persica accompanies him.

Lockinge Stakes hero Lead Artist looks to recapture that form for another powerful Newmarket stable in John & Thady Gosden. Dancing Gemini bids for that elusive Group 1, meanwhile, that would mean so much to connections and Roger Teal. Chantilly Group 3 winner Quddwah completes the British interest for the Simon & Ed Crisford team.

Japan even has a runner with Go To First remaining in Europe after finishing fifth in the Jacques Le Marois. A meagre home team sees Andre Fabre rely on Alcantor, rather than last year’s winner Tribalist, with Francis-Henri Graffard saddling Sahlan and Andreas Schutz running Marhaba Ya Sanafi. Learn more about the entire field with our horse racing betting experts’ detailed profiles below.

Prix du Moulin 2025 Runners Guide

1. Marhaba Ya Sanafi

Won a French Classic in 2023, but never reached those dizzying heights again since. Beaten twice by Alcantor at Saint-Cloud and Quddwah this season. Hard to fancy.

2. Quddwah

Group 2 winner on the Round Mile at Ascot last summer. Fourth in the Jacques Le Marois and fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II, but returned to action with Listed success over course and distance. Tried to dictate a steady pace in the Queen Anne and paid the price for it, finishing last. Bounced back with Chantilly Group 3 victory latest. Return to Longchamp for the Prix du Moulin is a plus, but questions as to whether he can cut it at the highest level. Each-way player.

3. Rosallion

Unlucky loser at both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. Saw that misfortune continue when bruised foot ruled him out of the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last month. Only beaten a length when fourth in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes down in trip latest. Needs and deserves a change of luck, but this isn’t any easier. Still brings some of the best form into race, though.

4. Dancing Gemini

Beaten a length when dropping to third in Jacques Le Marois latest after showing promise earlier in the season. Runner-up on previous visit to France last term. Always seems to find one too good at this level, but represents best of Deauville form and could be in the frame in the Prix du Moulin again.

5. Go To First

Japanese horse who beat more fancied compatriot when fifth in the Jacques Le Marois latest. Looked one-paced and no match for the front four. Others appeal more.

6. Lead Artist

Inconsistent horse who produced a career best when landing Group 1 Lockinge  at Newbury this spring after trailing in last on reappearance. Poor seventh in the Queen Anne behind Rosallion, but finished ahead of Dancing Gemini again latest. Given the rest of the summer off. Hard to know what to expect from him in the Prix du Moulin now, but capable on a going day.

7. Persica

Progressed out of handicaps with Listed victory over mile-and-a-quarter at Ayr last season, then added two Group 3s this term. Trailed in last of eight in the Lockinge either side of those Newmarket (9f) and Epsom wins (extended mile). Only sixth in Goodwood Group 2 latest. Stays further, but stable second string and obviously something to find with the market principals.

8. Alcantor

𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘
⭕ #SaintCloud – Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr.3)

Alcantor (New Bay) s’offre une troisième victoire de Gr.3 avec beaucoup de courage, repoussant jusqu’au bout l’assaut de Marhaba Ya Sanafi.
Un nouveau succès pour Édouard de Rothschild, André Fabre et Alexis Pouchin. pic.twitter.com/du7r0NuJpY

— France Galop (@francegalop) March 29, 2025

Three-time Saint-Cloud Group 3 winner over the mile. At his best when conditions very soft or heavy. Third on two previous starts over course and distance, when short-neck behind Dancing Gemini in last season’s French 2000 Guineas, then filled same spot in Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc Weekend. Trainer has won the Prix du Moulin eight times, but this horse held by Quddwah on Chantilly run latest.

9. Sahlan

Twice beaten over course and distance, first in a Classic trial when lost by a nose on reappearance, then when no match for Henri Matisse and ninth in the French 2000 Guineas. Found a good opportunity to land a Deauville Group 3 latest, but needs significant improvement on that here. Further progress can’t be ruled out after just five career starts, though.

10. The Lion In Winter

Went into this season as the ante-post favourite for the Epsom Derby only for the wheels to fall off. Yet to really recapture the promise of his unbeaten juvenile campaign. Even his recent French runs were a mixed back. Good third in the Prix Jean Prat over 1,400m, but an eased down last in the Jacques Le Marois latest. Connections persisting, but not the Prix du Moulin first string for the stable.

11. Henri Matisse

Breeders’ Cup hero last autumn and won Classic over course and distance in May. Bumped into Field Of Gold in Group 1 St James’s Palace during Royal Ascot, then caught out by pacemaker Qirat and behind Rosallion when third in the Sussex Stakes latest. Re-opposing runner-up 1lb better off at the weights. Third of three course and distance winners in the line-up. Strong claims, but won’t want the ground too soft.

12. Serengeti

All-Weather maiden winner over seven furlongs last autumn. Been used as a pacemaker in recent outings. Similar job on again here. Can disregard.

Prix du Moulin 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

There isn’t a standout miler in Europe in the absence of Field Of Gold, so this other Group 1 on Arc Trials Day is open. Rosallion is due a change of luck, but nothing has gone right for him this season. Of the three course and distance winners, HENRI MATISSE could have the race to suit and his Guineas win here in May has been franked by the runner-up landing the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August and by the third scoring in the Prix du Jockey Club earlier this summer.

Of the others, credible cases can be made for Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist and Quddwah back here on the pick of their form. Alcantor looks best of a bad bunch representing the home team. It’s probably best ignoring the enigmas in the race like The Lion In Winter and Marhaba Ya Sanafi. Sahlan has a lot to find with the selection on the French Classic form.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee