Deauville gets its summer campaign off to a flying start
Sunshine is expected to grace Deauville this Saturday, but it will not be the only highlight of the day. With seven Group and Listed contests among the nine races on the card, the Normandy racecourse will provide an enticing preview of its prestigious August meeting.
On Deauville's famous straight course, the runners will thunder past the grandstands, giving racegoers a front-row view of the thrilling finishes.
The feature event is undoubtedly the Prix Ris-Orangis (Group 3), scheduled for 4.51pm. Eight sprinters are set to line up, including the British challenger Elmonjed, representing a yard with a formidable record in top-class sprint races.
The home team, however, boasts plenty of strong contenders. Stéphane Wattel will saddle two runners, Charibelle and, above all, Kailani, a sprinter he has patiently developed. Winner of the Prix Marchand d'Or (Listed), Kailani appears to have reached full maturity and, returning to the Deauville straight he knows so well, will bid to secure the first Group success of his career.
His task will be far from straightforward. Mise en Boîte, who arrives on the back of a series of excellent performances, also commands respect, while Summer Sail and Zzodiac, both trained in Chantilly, have the credentials to play leading roles in what promises to be a highly competitive renewal.
Listed races set the stage
Before the eagerly awaited Prix Ris-Orangis, a series of Listed races should keep spectators thoroughly entertained throughout the afternoon.
The action gets underway at 1.05pm with the Prix Roland de Chambure, the opening Listed contest for the juvenile generation. The race could produce a fascinating clash between Avec Toi and Queen of the Days, two beautifully bred youngsters who both made highly impressive winning debuts.
The Prix Goldikova, at 2.15pm, could see Gaga Girl bounce back after her luckless trip to Royal Ascot for the Kensington Palace Stakes. Trained by Gérald Mossé, she deserves another chance and returns to conditions that could allow her to get her career firmly back on track.
Sprint enthusiasts will also be well catered for, with three further Listed races — the Prix Yacowlef, Prix Kistena and Prix Amandine — scheduled between 2.50pm and 4.07pm.
These races on Deauville's straight course are often an ideal springboard for emerging sprint specialists. Several runners could seize the opportunity to announce themselves as the new benchmark performers in the division ahead of the summer meeting.