Preview: Deauville This Weekend.
The G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m) is the highlight this weekend of the three consecutive days of racing at Deauville. Run on the straight course for three-year-olds and above, this is the feature race of the Summer Meeting. Frankie Dettori shares the title of leading jockey in the event with six previous victories including the last two renewals on Palace Pier. Can he achieve a seventh win of the race?
Every year on this particular weekend it is almost impossible to find a spare bed in a hotel in Deauville. The reason? Not only is it the feature weekend of the Summer Racing Meeting but also there is the commencement of the Arqana Yearling Sales. Deauville will be abuzz with leading owners, trainers, and horseracing enthusiasts from around the world. The yearling sales start on Saturday and are conducted for three days with 313 lots to be offered.
On the racetrack, the weekend will begin Saturday with a summers' afternoon of racing at Clairefontaine and then will switch to Deauville for the following three days with multiple Black Type races.
The highlight will be the running of the €1,000,000 Prix Jacques le Marois, the feature race of the entire Summer Meeting. Internationally, this event is frequently rated the best mile race each year, and again we will witness the three-year-olds go up against their older rivals, many for the first time.
The Godolphin owned and Charlie Appleby trained three-year-old Correbus has the credentials to continue winning. He will receive an age weight allowance of three kilograms from his older rivals and arrives in outstanding form having won his past two – the Classic 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and then followed this up with victory in the St James Palace at Royal Ascot both over 1600m. His record reads five starts – all over 1600m – for four wins and with the yard currently in top form maintaining a 38% strike rate, he stands out as the horse his rivals need to beat.
Another three-year-old – this time a filly, Inspiral – had her colours lowered for the first time when beaten in the Falmouth Stakes (G1) over 1600m at Newmarket on the July course by the re-opposing Prosperous Voyage. Inspiral has had six starts for five wins and is trained by the John and Thaddy Gosden partnership. The winner of two G1 races, she was simply breath-taking in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot winning by 4.75L and could win here without surprising. The clash between these two top three-years-olds will be worth watching.
The Irish trained, international globetrotter State of Rest might only be a four-year-old but has the most Group One victories against his name going into this race with four – and all four in different countries including United States, Australia, England and in France where he was the winner of the Prix Ganay in May over 2100m. The query will be the drop in distance and facing a straight course.
Erevann is one of just two runners for the home team and arrives as the winner of all three races and all over the 1600m. A last start G3 victor in June at Chantilly, he may be receiving a weight allowance but still faces a big task, up against proven G1 and more seasoned opponents.
Apart from the feature race, the meeting will be complimented with three Group 3 events and a Listed race.
On Monday the quality racing action continues at Deauville with the drawcard race being the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, a non-penalty G2 contest for three-year-olds run over 2000m.
Al Hakeem will be having his first race since finishing fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) following three successive victories including a 4L Listed win over 2000m in May.
El Bodegon may be trained in England but has been a regular visitor to France winning his Group One last October scoring in the Critérium de St-Could over 2000m. Since then, his French runs have been consistent with a solid second in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) behind Vadeni and last start third in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) over 2400m last month. He gives the impression of having a clear preference for rain affected tracks, though has been placed twice from three races on good going.
The Aidan O'Brien trained Aikhal stepped up in distance to 2000m for the first-time last start at the Curragh (IRE) and won a G3 contest. This was his second win in six races. By Galileo he is a maturing colt and may have further progress.
Newmarket (UK) based trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam already tasted G1 success at Deauville this Summer Meeting when Saffron Beach easily won the Prix Rothschild, following her win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, both races over 1600m. Another horse in her stable to win at the Royal Meeting was Claymore who took out the 2000m Hampton Court Stakes (G3). He then failed in a G2 at York (UK) but should not be dismissed in this race.
Two progressive French colts stepping into Group company for the first time and worth considering are True Testament, trained by an in-form André Fabre and winner of his past two and the Aga Khan owned/ Francis Graffard trained Carini, a winner of three of his four races to date. UK trainer George Boughey previously had Group success at Deauville and presents the promising Missed The Cut.
