Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX MINERVE-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-12, 3yo, f,
1 9/16mT, 2:40.70, gd.
1--@#FORCES OF DARKNESS (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Lawman (Fr)
1st Dam: Miss Childrey (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire),
   by Dr Fong
2nd Dam: Blazing Glory (Ire), by Glow
3rd Dam: Salvationist (GB), by Mill Reef
(€11,000 wnlg '09 GOFNOV; €17,000 yrl '10
GOFSPT; 20,000gns HIT '11 TATHIT). O-Gerard
Augustin-Normand; B-Keatly Overseas Ltd; T-Fabrice
Vermeulen; J-Gregory Benoist; €40,000. Lifetime
Record: 11 starts, 4 wins, 3 places, €172,817. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: C. 
2--Nobilis (GB), 121, f, 3, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)--
Dolydille (Ire), by Dolphin Street (Fr). (72,000gns yrl
'10 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor; B-D G Hardisty
Bloodstock; T-Andre Fabre; €16,000.
3--La Conquerante (GB), 121, f, 3, Hurricane Run (Ire)--
Winning Family (Ire), by Fasliyev. (€80,000 yrl '10
ARQAUG). O-Bernard Magrez Horses; B-M3 Elevage
& Haras d'Etreham; T-Jean-Claude Rouget; €12,000.  
Margins: SNK, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.60, 15.00, 5.70.
Also Ran: Biscaya Bay (GB), Marina Piccola (Ire), Preferential (GB), Mandistana (Fr), Gold For Tina (Fr), Bit By Bit (GB), Registara (Ger), Darayya (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart. Click for Equidia video.
   Third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp May 27 and fourth in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane last time June 17, Forces of Darkness returned from a short break to open her black-type account here. Three times a winner but not tried in group company prior to her fine effort behind Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal) in the Saint-Alary, the bay had that rival behind her alongside other smart performers Dalkala (Giant's Causeway) and Leaupartie (Ire) (Stormy River {Fr}) when 7 3/4 lengths behind Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) in the Chantilly Classic. Reserved in mid-division by Gregory Benoist on the inner here, she was produced with a late rattle in the center of the track to nail Nobilis near the line. "We knew she'd stay a mile and a half, and it was easier to run over this trip than try a mile and a quarter again," conditioner Fabrice Vermeulen explained. "On the form of the Diane, she deserved to win this, and she'll probably go for the G2 Prix de Royallieu [at Longchamp Oct. 16], as the G1 Prix Vermeille [at Longchamp Sept. 16] will be too tough for her."