Inspiral is back to try and seek an unprecedented third consecutive success in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m), the jewel in the crown of Deauville’s month long racing festival.
Frankie Dettori inspired John & Thady Gosden’s contender to wins in the 1600m showpiece in 2022 and 2023.
But with Dettori retired from the European stage and Inspiral yet to shine as a five-year-old it will be some training feat if she manages to pull off a remarkable hat-trick.
France has only managed to hold on to one of their premier prizes in the calendar twice in the last 10 runnings.
Their 2024 hopes are pinned on the smart three-year-old Metropolitan, winner of the French 2000 Guineas, and Big Rock – both trained by Chantilly-based Italians.
Big Rock enjoyed a superb three-year-old campaign and was runner-up to Inspiral in this last year, but has failed to fire so far since switching stables.
Metropolitan is taking on his elders for the first time, and trainer Mario Baratti has high hopes.
“Metropolitan is a horse that doesn’t stop improving,” he told specialist French racing newspaper Paris Turf.
“His last two races were really very good. He has to show his form again, but he has the right to fight for victory. He has taken his race at Ascot well and is in very good physical condition.”
The softer ground will be in his favour compared to the fast going he encountered when third when “taking on the best three-year-olds in the world” at Royal Ascot last time out.
King Gold is making a quick reappearance after failing to shine last Sunday in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi is back again after trailing in last of 11 to Inspiral in 2023. There were reportedly legitimate excuses for his below par performance, and his trainer is hopeful he can play a more prominent role this time.
Aside from Inspiral, the English raiding party looks extremely strong.
The three-year-old Haatem was second to his stablemate Rosallion in the Irish 2000 Guineas before scraping home in the G3 Jersey Stakes (1400m) at Royal Ascot.
Quddwah boasts an unbeaten record with four wins from four, the last a career best success in an Ascot G2 over this trip in July. He is out to emulate his sire, Kingman, the Marois winner in 2014 and is having his first shot at this level.
There is a lot to like about another cross-channel raider, Charyn too.
His astute trainer Roger Varian has deliberately targetted the Marois over last month’s Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for his talented grey who runs on the back of an eye catching G1 success in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He’s really grown into himself this year, he seems to be the finished article and has really put it all together on the track,” Varian told attheraces.com.
“I think as early as a week after Ascot, we set our stall out that this would be his next race, we thought it was right to just focus on one race and Deauville would be his spot.
“We’ve trained him accordingly, he’s in great shape and we’re very much looking forward to Sunday.”
