G1 Prix Jacques le Marois

The Curragh stages Europe's first Group 1 contest for the current crop of 2-year-olds on Saturday and it is fair to say that a Keeneland Phoenix S. without the anticipated presence of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up for grabs. While Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent opted to send the G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' to Deauville for the Prix Morny, the way is clear for another 'TDN Rising Star' son of that sire to step into his place. Unquestionable (Fr) has the obstacle of yet...

While Saratoga continues to thrill across the Atlantic, the long hot summer of 2022 rolls on with Deauville staging its own prolonged festival to draw the elite to Normandy's cradle of racing. The G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois is arguably the jewel of the whole month and has attracted some notable actors on Sunday including Godolphin's exciting Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). At this mile trip, Charlie Appleby has the material this season with the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. already...

Four-time Group 1 winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will head to Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville instead of next week's G1 Juddmonte International, according to trainer Joseph O'Brien. The 4-year-old's international tour kicked off with a win in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. last August, and he shipped Down Under and captured the iconic G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct. 23. Next was a 3/4-length win in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp on May Day prior to a solid third in...

Last year's G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is slowly rounding back into form after a start in this year's King George was mooted earlier this week, according to trainer Charlie Appleby. The Classic winner ran fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October and dropped to fifth in his 3-year-old finale, the G1 QIPCO Champion S. in the middle of that month. He has not graced a racecourse since. Appleby said, "Adayar is cantering...

Having missed the G1 Sussex S. due to a minor setback, Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back in the picture as he defends his title in Sunday's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville. More workmanlike than impressive when last seen in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 15, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star has a six-pound weight-for-age gift to present to Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and will need to be at his best to contain...

Top-class miler Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will miss the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 28, after presenting with poor blood work in advance of the race. The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum colourbearer has compiled an enviable record of eight wins in nine starts, and was last seen saluting in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He had opened his 2021 campaign with a win in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown on Apr. 23 and added the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S....

Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is unbeaten in four starts, worked well on Saturday in advance of the Aug. 19 G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, according to trainer John Gosden. The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum colourbearer graduated on debut at Sandown last August and added a novice race there a month later before being shelved. Successful in a June 6 handicap at Newcastle over the all-weather, the bay saluted in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot in his latest...

MGSW Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. and G2 Celebration Mile S. at Goodwood last August, will now be pointed at the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Unplaced in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot upon resuming on June 16, the 4-year-old improved to third in the G2 Summer Mile S. there on July 11 and went one better in the July 28 G2 Lennox S. last out for trainers Paul and Oliver Cole. "I think the plan will be to...