17 August 2018
Photo of the Darley Prix Robert Papin 2018 by scoopdyga.com
The toast of Europe’s new generation is meeting in Deauville in the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1), final leg of the #DarleySeries. Nine 2-year-old colts and fillies have been confirmed on the 6 furlongs straight course. Naturally there are the winners of the two previous #DarleySeries, namely Signora Cabello (Camacho), winner of the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) at Maisons-Laffitte, and Comedy (Dandy Man), who has just won the Prix Darley de Cabourg (Gr3) in Deauville.
There are also two leading speedsters from Ireland with Land Force (No Nay Never), who won the Richmond Richmond Stakes (Gr2) at Goodwood last time out, and So Perfect (Scat Daddy), second in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes ( Gr1) at the Curragh. Pretty Pollyanna (Oasis Dream) has just won a group 2 at Newmarket by seven lengths and has planned a raid in Normandy since then.
The French side relies on Sexy Metro (Diamond Green) and Simply Striking (Kheleyf), respectively second and fifth in the Darley Prix Robert Papin, only beaten a neck and a length over a slightly shorter trip.
A new Gallic success, seven years after that of Dabirsim in the same race, is not excluded.
Darley, which represents the breeding interests of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, emir of Dubai, also sponsors the 3 other group races of the day, that is the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1), the Darley Prix de Pomone (Gr2) and the Darley Prix Kergorlay (Gr2). Ten mares gather in the former with Bateel (Dubawi), winner the Prix Corrida (Gr2) for her return, facing the tough Gr1 winners Rhododendron (Galileo) and Urban Fox (Foxwedge), among others.