French conditioner Carlos Laffon-Parias had originally considered his charge, the son of Whipper for Gr.1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or the Gr.1 British Champion Stakes. Eventually Recoletos was chosen to race in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp where a a late surge past Wind Chimes brought him a second Group One and a claim to the title of the best miler in Europe.
His top-level breakthrough in the Churchill Gr.1 Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs in May brought him his first Group One of the year.
Earlier this year, Alpha Centauri, beat Recoletos by 2 1/2 lengths in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard. She will be expected to continue her unbeaten Group One winning streak in the Gr.1 Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown this weekend.
During the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, jockey Olivier Peslier had to contend with distinguished milers like Expert Eye, Lightning Spear, and Without Parole in the field.
Recoletos is now considered a shoo-in for the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a course where he has enjoyed mixed fortunes.
Click here to watch Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner race 2018
1st Recoletos (C. Laffon-Parias, O. Peslier), 2nd Wind Chimes (A. Fabre, P. Boudot), 3rd Expert Eye (S. Stoute, R. Moore), 4th Plumatic (A. Fabre, M. Guyon), 5th Lightning Spear (D. Simcock, O. Murphy), 6th Without Parole (J. Gosden, F. Dettori), 7th Homerique (F. Graffard, A. Badel), 8th Wootton (H. Pantall, M. Barzalona ), 9th Royal Julius (J. Reynier, T. Bachelot), 10th Intellogent (F. Chappet, C. Soumillon), 11th Oriental (C. Laffon-Parias, T. Thulliez)
Distance: 1,600 metres (1 mile), Surface: Turf, Track: Right-handed, Qualification: Three-years-old and up,excluding geldings, Weight: 56½ kg (3yo); 58½ kg (4yo+),Allowances,1½ kg for fillies and mares, Purse: €450,000 (2017),1st: €257,130
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com