The European racing season continues full throttle towards the monumental Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. This weekend, the cream of the continental action takes place in Normandy, as Deauville lays on a quartet of Group races, spearheaded by the Group 1 duo of the Prix Morny and Prix Jean Romanet.
With over £850,000 up for grabs across the four races, the Deauville features have piqued the interest of the leading British and Irish yards, with the likes of Charlie Appleby and Aidan O’Brien targeting further French success to add to their international CVs.
The opening Sumbe Prix Kengorlay for the stayers is an all-French affair, but the other three Group races feature at least one British or Irish runner on what could be an excellent afternoon for the raiding party.
Sumbe Prix du Calvados (Group 2)
Held over a straight 7f, this contest for the juvenile fillies has fallen to a British or Irish-trained runner on 11 occasions since the year 2000. This year, three make the trip from the UK to tackle a French team headed by the hat-trick-seeking My Highness and impressive Chantilly winner Arkansas.
- Fitzella – Representing the Hugo Palmer/Oisin Murphy combo, this daughter of Too Darn Hot has achieved the most of the three British runners. Having stayed on well for fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, she backed that up with an all-the-way success back at the Berkshire venue in the Princess Margaret Stakes. Each of those efforts came at 6f, but her style of running suggests the additional distance may suit
- Nandita – Of the three British trainers represented, only John Gosden has previously claimed this prize. On what we have seen to date, it is hard to envisage Nandita following in the hoofprints of the yard’s 2011 winner, Elusive Kate. Beaten eight lengths in a Listed event at Sandown in July, she will need to improve significantly
- True Test – Hailing from the yard of William Knight, True Test has yet to hit the heights of Fitzella. However, the Time Test filly has done all that has been asked of her in winning Maiden and Novice events at Lingfield and Newmarket. This is a tough race in which to complete the hat-trick, but we may not have seen anything like the best of her yet
Sumbe Prix Morny (Group 1)
With 18 wins in the past 25 editions, British and Irish runners have dominated this 6f event for the youngsters. With the 2025 renewal featuring only one French challenger, there’s a solid chance one of the following quartet will improve that record still further.
- Coppull – Renowned for his prowess with sprinters, Clive Cox claimed the 2012 Prix Morny with Reckless Abandon. With two wins from three starts, including the Group 2 Richmond Stakes last time out, Coppull has earned this crack at Group 1 level
- Gstaad – Having missed his intended engagement in the Phoenix Stakes, this rising Aidan O’Brien star heads to France for his first top-tier assignment. A perfect two from two to date, he produced a sizzling display to claim the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and may be hard to beat
- Venetian Sun – Also unbeaten and also a Royal Ascot winner, Venetian Sun is held in the highest regard by Karl Burke. Successful in the Group 3 Albany Stakes and Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, she has the 4lb fillies’ allowance on her side as she bids to take this next step up the ladder
- Wise Approach – By star sprinter Mehmas and a half-brother to the 2021 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power, this Charlie Appleby gelding is nicely bred for the task at hand. Finishing well for second in the 5f Norfolk Stakes, he arrives on the back of an easy Listed win over this trip at Newbury
Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1)
The most recent addition to this Group race card made its debut in 2004. Since that time, the prize has headed back to an English or Irish yard on nine occasions. With five runners to three, the hosts hold the numerical advantage this year, but will they repel the following very decent trio?
- Bedtime Story – Kicking off her career with four successive wins, including an incredible 9½-length rout in the Chesham Stakes, Bedtime Story looked like a superstar in the making. However, in five subsequent outings, the Aidan O’Brien filly has finished in the frame only once. On a more positive note, she ran well on her most recent trip to France when second in the Prix de Diane
- Cinderella’s Dream – Godolphin number one Charlie Appleby has yet to win this race but may have his best chance yet with this Shamardal filly. A winner in Dubai, the USA, and the UK, this year’s Falmouth Stakes heroine bids to add France to her globetrotting collection
- Royal Dress – Now five years old, this James Tate mare is the most experienced runner in the line-up, with a massive 20 previous outings to her name. However, this will be her first run outside of the UK. She won well in a Listed event at Pontefract in July but is zero from three at Group 2 level and yet to tackle a Group 1 event
So, in all we have three cracking Group class events, with 10 British or Irish hopes spread fairly evenly. Tune in to the Sunday afternoon card from Deauville to discover how many come home in front.