What the jockeys are saying ahead of Sunday's meeting at Deauville
Jason Kiely speaks to Frankie Dettori, Mickael Barzalona and Aurelien Lemaitre ahead of this afternoon's action at Deauville.
The Darley Prix Morny is the highlight of this afternoon's action-packed card at Deauville. A race where all eyes will be fixed on Earthlight, one of only two French runners taking on a strong overseas army in the first of two hotly contested Group One races on the other side of the channel.
A son of Shamadal, Earthlight showed a lightning turn of pace when pulling well clear of rivals over course and distance to win the Group Two Prix du Cabourg three weeks ago for his trainer André Fabre, who is looking for a first win in this race since Zafonic won back in 1992.
Mickaël Barzalona has built up an excellent rapport with Earthlight and is very much looking forward to this afternoons feature, where they will face seven rivals over the 1,200m.
"I think he is a high class horse, he has looked very good and he seems to be going well coming here," said Barzalona who also took yesterday’s feature two-year-old race on Tropbeau for Fabre."
"I know that there is the Royal Ascot winners and Goodwood winners in the field, it will be difficult and it could be Raffles Prize that might be the main danger, she looks to have made a big an impact already this year," he said.
With the going getting ever softer at the Normandy track, Barzalona feels that’s conditions may not be ideal for the two-year-old this afternoon,
"The only query we have will be the ground, it has rained a lot recently and that may not necessarily play to Earthlight’s advantage, he is a horse with a beautiful action but we will have to see what’s it’s like out there," he said.
"But I think no matter what the result, it looks like an incredibly talented field and it should be a great race, at the same time it would be quite nice for everyone if we could win," he added.
Royal Ascot and Newmarket Group Two winner Raffle Prize, second in the betting to Earthlight is the pick of Frankie Dettori and looks the biggest threat to the market leader in the €350,000 showpiece.
The filly, trained by Mark Johnston, comes into the race in superb form and her official rating of 111 makes her slightly better off with Earthlight (112) due to her fillies allowance, and she also has more experience than her rival.
Already a five-time winner of the ‘Morny’, Dettori is chasing his 13th Group One winner of the season and is looking forward to getting back on board the daughter of Slade Power, having rode her to both big-race wins.
"Raffle Prize is very good and she has improved with every run, when she won the Queen Mary it was quite soft," he said..
"She is such a tough lady but also it looks such a tough race, she’s entitled to be there and it’s always been the plan so we’re going to go and take our chance."
The Itaian believes his mount deserves a shot at a top flight prize.
"She’s a Royal Ascot winner and a Newmarket winner, so it’s logical now to step her up to Group One level, yes there is a lot of good horses in the race and it’s by no means a walk in the park, but this could be our opportunity."
Of the other main overseas challengers, a strong case can be made for also A’Ali, winner over this course and distance in the Prix Robert Papin with Dettori in the saddle and he is now the mount of James Doyle.
There's also the Aidan O’Brien trained Coventry Stakes winner Arizona.
The Group One Darley Prix Jean Romanet sees Coronet return to France some six weeks after her narrow victory in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud.
Although in terrific form, the ‘race sees the John Gosden-trained mare dropped back to 2,000m for the first time since 2017 and although she is favourite with the layers, this is a cause for concern for Dettori.
"Coronet is in good shape and she is so ultra consistent. I know we are going back down in trip but I’m hoping that the form she is in this year can help. It is a worry going back to 2000m but she still remains one of the big players in the race and we should be there or thereabouts," the jockey predicted.
Despite his golden summer of success, Dettor isn't focused on reaching a record 16 Group One wins for the season.
"I’m not giving it any thought, I’m taking one race at a time and I’m not worried about records! I’m just trying to win the races here and in the moment. Try our best this weekend and get it out of the way, we have lots of big races coming up as well as next week, so plenty of chances, I will concentrate on it one step at a time" he said.
With You, who provided her jockey Aurelien Lemaitre with a first Group One winner when taking last season's Prix Rothschild, looks the main danger to Coronet.
With conditions in their favour, Lemaitre is positive on their chances,
"I’ve got a big day in Mr Strawbridge's colours, With You is stepping up a bit again in distance and I think that should work well for her, the last day we were just caught for a bit of speed the whole race, and even with that she ran an excellent race.
"So with that in mind, I think it will suit today’s distance and even more the ground, it rained when we won the Rothschild last year, so soft ground will be ok," the jockey observed.
Running in what will be her eighth Group One from ten lifetime starts for trainer Freddie Head, Lemaitre paid tribute to the ultra game With You but added that she will face some strong opposition again today,
“ We need to be in top form to win this, there is some really good horses in the field, but she is tough," he said.
Also representing the Strawbridge/Head combination, Lemaitre spoke fondly of Call The Wind who he rides later on in the card in the Darley Prix Kergorlay.
Last season's Prix du Cadran winner. Call The Wind is pinned as a strong hope by the bookmakers and an even stronger one by his jockey,
"I am so looking forward to riding him, I love this horse and his work has been very good in the mornings" said Lemaitre on the son of Frankel.
"Unfortunately he has to carry a Group One winners penalty all year, and over these distances that doesn’t help, but he is still competitive and so consistent, he can go very well and Arc weekend is in very much on our minds again.”
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