3 minute read
Sunday sees the running of our favourite named race.
It is the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois and it is G1 over 1600m for 3y+ but not geldings! It's down the straight at Deauville and the forecast going is heavy. There will be 7 starters.
Frankie Dettori as already justified his decision to ride in France this weekend and not go to York. Here he will be on board the St James's Palace winner Palace Pier for John Gosden and he's 6/5 to keep his unbeaten record. Andre Fabre's Ispahan winner Persian King is on 5/1 and Aidan O'Brien has booked Christophe Soumillon for the ride on Circus Maximus who is on 5/1.
Earlier there is the G3 Prix François Bouton for 2yos over the straight 1400m where Tiger Tanaka 5/4 is out to get his 4th straight win. He's had a few runs so has that advantage as opposed to Unveil who won on debut and is on 3/1. There are only 5 runners.
And later the Prix Minerve G3 over 2500m for 3yo fillies with 8 to race. Valia looks good here for Alain du Royer-Dupre with Soumillon riding. Aidan O'Brien has grabbed Frankie Dettor for the ride on Laburnum and we have a roughie here in Hidaka, the Fabre trained daughter of Deep Impact on 12/1.
Saturday's Guillaume d'Ornano was won in top style by Mishriff for Goden-Dettori.
The soft going seemed no problem as he won by 4 ½ lengths from The Summit, who now heads to Hong Kong, and Viktor Ludorum third.
The Gontaut-Biron saw Skalleti perform best in the going to finish ahead of Sottsass with Motamarris third and Mr Satchmo fourth.
The Prix de Lieurey went to Irska from Althiqa and Cloak Of Spirits.
Dettori has to do two weeks of quarantine on return to the UK ( providing he can get into the UK) although there is an elite athlete possibility that involves a test a.s.a.p after arrival and another test 7 days later, both of which must be negative.
It appears that the reported ban by the French of Phoenix Thoroughbred horses may be in force as they withdrew two horses of Archie Watson's who were entered to run on Saturday. Phoenix Thoroughbred doesn't have any horses trained in France.
