There are no domestic Group One races this weekend but over in France Deauville hosts the Prix Maurice de Gheest won last year by Europe’s Champion Sprinter Muhaarar.
He’s retired to stud now, opening up this year’s renewal and, as a result, 16 have been declared.
The horse I want to be on is the Hong Kong-trained GOLD-FUN, who has excelled at sprinting trips since being dropped back from a mile.
He ran a huge race behind Twilight Son in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing second on ground far softer than he’d encounter in his back yard at Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
His sprinting now form stands the closest scrutiny across various continents and this year’s renewal at Deauville looks markedly weaker than previous years, where horses like the exceptional three-time winner Moonlight Cloud have pillaged the race.
I make him the form pick and his versatility regarding ground is a huge asset.
The same can’t be said of recent Goodwood scorer Dutch Connection, who has been priced up favourite for this and needs really fast ground to be at his best.
French tracks water heavily and firm ground is very rare over there, even in high summer – just look at how fast-ground lovers Lumiere and Alice Springs fared at the track last weekend.
Even with his ideal conditions I don’t rate Dutch Connection’s chances too highly as he’s always disappointed at Group One level and his best shouldn’t be good enough for a race as big as this.
He is still improving, though, so it’s dangerous to rule him out completely.
A bigger threat is July Cup second Suedois, whose less glamorous connections often mean he’s underestimated in the market and there’s some each-way value in today’s 13/2 quote as he was just a fraction of a length behind Gold-Fun at Ascot.
Signs Of Blessing was also involved in that blanket finish but possibly had more favourable ground that day and was allowed to dictate the race and set his own fractions.
With a sounder surface and a bigger field he may struggle.
And then there is good old Gordon Lord Byron, who arrives in form after two wins and can claim strong course form at Deauville and other flat tracks like Haydock.
He’s eight now and not at his peak, but he was a top class Group One sprinter at that peak and is no doubt still competitive, so the 11/1 about is each-way value too.
We’ve not got much to work with regarding the French team, but Andre Fabre’s Jimmy Two Times arrives in form after back-to-back wins at the track, and a close second to subsequent Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection last season looks strong too.
Aged three he has the right profile for an improver and any local market support before post time would be significant.
For now I’ll stick to Gold-Fun.
1pt win Gold-Fun @5/1, 14:15 Deauville, Sunday
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