G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest | Horse Racing Free Tips

Deauville: Can Art Power Prevail In The Maurice De Gheest?

Always talented but frustratingly for King Power Racing just below what is required at the top level in his native England, Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has made successful overseas raids his main business and the travel-hungry sprinter is a notable first-timer at Deauville on Sunday for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Five trips to Ireland have resulted in a 100% win record, with The Curragh's G2 Greenlands S. and G2 Sapphire S. among this year's tally so it will be fascinating to see if his debut outing in France yields the same return.

King Power's racing manager Alastair Donald said of the Tim Easterby-trained 6-year-old, “He's got his favoured ground and he's thriving at the moment. He seems to love travelling and in French conditions we feel six and a half furlongs shouldn't be a problem–he actually ran pretty well last year over seven at York. The style of racing in France should really suit us, as he might be able to dominate and this is possibly his best chance ever to win a Group 1.”

If Art Power's love of overseas travel is confined to Ireland, there are a few among the 70% British representation that could take advantage. They include the Karl Burke-trained G3 Pavilion S. winner Cold Case (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis scorer Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}). The latter was impressive in that six-furlong contest here last month and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's managing director Harry Herbert hopes they have spotted an opportunity with this being one of the weakest renewals in years.

“It's a rather unique race obviously, in that it's run over six and a half furlongs and that would be his ideal trip,” he said. “He's been such a fun horse, he was so impressive last time and having thought he might be retired last year with a little issue he had, he now seems to be better than ever. The turnaround has been incredible for his shareholders, he's been very well trained by Karl and it's amazing to be heading over to Deauville for a group one.”

A Wide-Open German Oaks

Also on Sunday, Dusseldorf stage the 165th running of the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana with no obvious standout among the 14 protagonists. As ever, the draw will play a part with only two winners having come from double-figure stalls in the last 10 renewals. Gestut Rottgen's impressive G3 Hoppegarten Diana Trial winner Kassada (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) who was subsequently second in the G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis at Hamburg last month is drawn against the fence, while Stall Golden Goal's G3 Hamburg Stuten-Meile scorer Muskoka (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) is in four as she steps up markedly in trip. Gestut Ebbesloh's G1 Deutsches Derby third Weracruz (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}) has the major disadvantage of being in stall 13, while the French raider, the G3 Prix Vanteaux runner-up Sea The Lady (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), is in 11. Sunday's other key contest is the G3 Prix Daphnis back at Deauville, where Juddmonte's unbeaten Andre Fabre-trained colt Colombier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) reappears after a break having beaten his re-opposing subsequent Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick-winning stablemate Mr Moliere (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a ParisLongchamp conditions event in May.

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Just Beautiful To Skip Royal Ascot, As Breeders’ Cup Mile In Play

Group 2 winner Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) will not participate at Royal Ascot, and will instead point toward targets later in the summer with a trip to the Breeders' Cup also a possibility, trainer Paddy Twomey revealed on Friday.

The 5-year-old Moyglare Stud colourbearer ran fifth in the G3 Athasi S. at the Curragh in early May, before taking the G2 Lanwades Stud S. later in the month. The G1 Falmouth S., as well as the G1 Prix Rothschild–both in July–and the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in August are potential targets for the progressive bay.

Twomey said, “She's not going [to Ascot]. I would say she will go to Deauville maybe. We may look at the Falmouth, but she might go to France for the Prix Maurice De Gheest or Prix Rothschild.”

The trainer added, “The long-term aim would be the [GI] Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita [in November].”

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Maurice de Gheest Headlines on Sunday

Deauville hosts its second Group 1 contest of the August festival on Sunday, with the 6 1/2-furlong ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest representing a niche for the staying sprinters of which Godolphin's Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is prominent. Coming of age this term with success in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. June 18, he beat everything that re-opposed from that contest again in Newmarket's G1 July Cup July 9 only to find Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) too strong. Some of them are here too, but this is a new challenge with several new rivals entering the mix in a race in which he was only eighth on contrasting testing ground 12 months ago. Charlie Appleby is happy that the surface will be different this time. “We know that conditions in France are there to suit–he loves quick ground and has run well over seven furlongs in the past. Based on his form this year, he looks the one to beat,” he said.

How Far Can Harry Go?

If there is one with the capability of reaching these heights in one swoop it is Clive Cox Racing's Harry Three (GB) (Adaay {Ire}), who looked every bit in the mold of some of his trainer's better sprinters when taking the Listed Prix Kistena over six furlongs here July 10. That was a step up from his win in a competitive York handicap June 11 and there is no telling where his limit lies. “He's progressing quickly, but this is a huge step up,” Cox said. “He's full of confidence and he's shown solid form on the track. He's travelled and arrived early and the journey went well which I'm pleased about, given the complications that can arise with that at the moment. He's growing up all the time and becoming more experienced and I think he deserves this step up.” Last year's G2 Prix du Calvados winner Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is another intriguing prospect among the 3-year-olds, with her strong closing effort when fourth in this venue's seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat marking her as a talented performer July 10.

Minzaal's Time?

Shadwell's history with top sprinters is a rich one and the latest big gun among them could be the Owen Burrows-trained Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who has taken a while to deliver on the deep promise of his 2-year-old campaign but who seemed to come of age last time when beating Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in the G3 Hackwood S. at Newbury July 16. “He's come out of Newbury great–there is another month until the Haydock Sprint Cup, so this fits in nicely,” his trainer said. “He was very strong at the end at Newbury, so I don't feel the extra half-furlong will hinder him at all. He's been Group 1-placed at two and Group 1-placed at three, so it would be lovely if he can get his head in front for one.”

Toy Takes Aim At Dusseldorf Classic

Narrowly denied in the Irish Oaks, Ballydoyle's Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes to Dusseldorf to gain compensation in the G1 Henkel Preis der Diana and augment the remarkable record of top-level winners out of her dam You'resothrilling (Storm Cat). Heading the home defence is Stall Nizza's June 19 G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Nachtrose (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose half-sister Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) was second in this in 2015, and Gestut Rottgen's July 3 G3 Mehl Mulhens-Trophy scorer Well Disposed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}).

Click here for the fields.

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Haydock Sprint Cup Next For Starman

Starman (GB) (Dutch art {GB}), the winner of the G1 July Cup, will aim for a start in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Sept. 4 after running a close third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. A winner of his first three starts last fall, including the Listed Garrowby S. at York in September, the 4-year-old colt did not care for the soft ground in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. and ran unplaced in October. he was back on top in the G2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics S. on May 12 prior to his Newmarket victory on July 10.

Trainer Ed Walker said, “We live to fight another day and when we get him back on proper fast ground, we'll see his true colours again. We've so much rain, we're surely due a dry spell. We'll aim for Haydock and see how we go.”

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