Deauville's month-long festival begins on Tuesday, with the G1 Prix Rothschild the central focus of the opening fixture switched from its customary slot on the last Sunday in July.
As usual, the foreign presence is strong and foreboding, with Aidan O'Brien looking to continue his golden year in France with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Successful in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, she has since run second to Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp May 16, third in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and runner-up again in the G1 Falmouth S. on Newmarket's July course. The form of that July 9 contest could hardly have worked out better at Goodwood this week, with Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) making their presence felt in the G1 Sussex S. and the fourth-placed Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) scooping the G1 Nassau S.
Fifth in the Falmouth and finishing strongly to beaten just over a length in total, David Ward's Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. winner Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) tries again with trainer Ed Walker expecting her to be in the mix.
“I'm very hopeful,” he said. “She's only had three runs this year and the only time she had an uninterrupted passage she absolutely trotted up. She is massively exciting and she's in great form. We haven't had to do a lot with her since the Falmouth to keep her happy and well. This year, we seem to have found the hottest renewal of the Falmouth in history. We've got to turn the form round with Mother Earth, which I wouldn't bet against her doing. We're just hoping we have a smooth trip and if she does I think she'll be bang there.”
Of the home team, the Katsumi Yoshida-owned Coeursamba, who after her Pouliches victory has subsequently finished 11th trying the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 20, and Teruya Yoshida's acquisition Tahlie (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) appear to hold the strongest claims. Tahlie beat the Pouliches third Kennella (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly June 6, but needs to improve significantly to put it up to the raiding party.
Germany are well-represented, with Gestut Brummerhof's Novemba (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Cayton Park Stud Ltd and Team Valor's Axana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Novemba was the impressive winner of the May 30 G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf before finishing a respectable fourth in the Coronation and is set to give jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev the ultimate thrill, while Axana faces the sternest test of her career having annexed Lingfield's G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. over seven furlongs May 8.
Colts Eye Group 3 Laurel
The card kicks off with two races for juveniles headed by the six-furlong G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg, where John and Jess Dance's Sam Maximus (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) could set off another spree for overseas challengers who perennially farm the black-type races at this meeting.
Setting the clear form standard on his latest third in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8, where the subsequent G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) was a head in front in second, the Tom Dascombe-trained bay has a trio of domestically-trained unexposed colts to contend with. They are Gerard Augustin-Normand's impressive July 13 Prix des Yearlings winner Toimy Son (Fr) (Twilight Son {GB}) from the Yann Barberot stable, Hollymount Stud France's Sunday Best (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), who was a five-length winner also over this course and distance July 13, and the Andre Fabre-trained Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Westerberg's bay beat a subsequent winner over 6 1/2 furlongs on a testing surface at ParisLongchamp June 24 and it is interesting that the master of Chantilly pitches him in here in the race he has won on seven occasions.
Hunt For Perfection
In the G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing, Fabre also has the exciting unbeaten Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who has been purchased by Ali Hamad Al Attiya after her dazzling success in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over this seven-furlong trip and track July 11. George Boughey sends across Nick Bradley Racing's Galileo Gold (GB) duo Oscula (Ire) and Hellomydarlin (Ire), with the pair third and 12th respectively in the six-furlong G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot June 18. The former was fourth next time in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket July 9, while Hellomydarlin managed third in the G2 Prix Robert Papin also over six at Chantilly July 18.
“The ground was too quick for Oscula at Newmarket last time,” Boughey said. “It looks like there's a bit of ease out there this time, which should suit her. She was third in the Albany on heavy and then it was very soft ground on Oaks day when she won the Woodcote. She's rated 100, goes there in good shape, so I think she has a good chance. Jockey reports and everything I've seen have always suggested Hellomydarlin would get seven. She's a big, strong filly and goes there with a decent chance as well. They worked together the other day and they worked as well as each other. Obviously one will beat the other, but where they finish, I'm not sure.”
Another British raider is Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Daneh (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was impressive when beating a subsequent winner in a novice over this trip on her sole start on Kempton's Polytrack June 23. A daughter of the top-class Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), she is an unknown quantity in this line-up.
“She won very well at Kempton and we thought she deserved a chance in a stakes race,” Ed Crisford commented. “We were going to run her in a listed race at Sandown the other day, but it was very firm ground and she wouldn't want that. It still looks a very punchy affair out there, but she's in good form and I think she's come on again from her first run so we're expecting a good run from her.”
Also in the mix is Alain Jathiere and Guy Pariente's Pascal Bary-trained Lovamour (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), who took a 5 1/2-furlong Chantilly maiden June 20 which has received several boosts and in which the aforementioned Cabourg contender Sunday Best was third, and The Aga Khan's impressive July 15 Chantilly conditions winner Soumera (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
Angel Hoping to Earn Halo in Psyche
The 10-furlong G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing features the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) who is another Nick Bradley-Boughey project excelling above expectations.
“It seems everywhere she goes, the rain follows her. She's in very good form–she's been busy, but she takes her racing incredibly well,” her trainer said. “She's not bred to get a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half, but I think because she's so relaxed she's able to. We'll probably look to make plenty of use of her and get on the front. James Doyle will know that she stays a mile and a half well and be pretty positive on her.”
Among her seven opponents are Irish challenger The Blue Brilliant, who moves up in class in search of her hat-trick for Jessica Harrington.
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