A high-class 15 August at Deauville Racecourse

On Saturday, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse will stage another high-class card as part of the Deauville Barrière Meeting. Eight races are on the programme, including four Group races: two Group 2 and two Group 3.

The meeting will get underway at 13:58 with the JRA Prix Alec Head – Prix de Pomone (Group 2), for fillies and mares aged three and over, run over 2,500 metres. Five runners will line up. Rabbit’s Foot, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, is among the highest-rated contenders, alongside Euboa. Karla Jet, Indalimos and Zakharova complete a very open field.

At 14:33, attention will turn to the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Group 2), one of the major summer contests for three-year-olds over 2,000 metres. Five runners will face the starter, including Daryzan, representing the Aga Khan Studs and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Baroud, trained by André and Lavinia Fabre, and Proof, trained by Christopher Head. The international challenge will be led by Montreal, the highest-rated runner in the field (53), trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien and partnered by Ryan Moore. Hello Jo will also take part.

The three-year-old fillies will then take centre stage in the Darley Prix de Lieurey (Group 3), run over 1,600 metres. With thirteen runners, the race promises to be particularly competitive and international. Narissa, representing the Aga Khan Studs and Francis-Henri Graffard, The Prettiest Star, Esna, Vaticana, Hassaleh and Indifférente are among a field featuring runners trained in both France and Great Britain.

Another highlight of the afternoon, the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Group 3), will bring together nine horses aged four and over over 2,000 metres. Cualificar, trained by André Fabre, boasts the highest rating in the field and will face the likes of Leffard, First Look, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Map of Stars. Once again, the clash between French and British-trained horses will add an international dimension to the race.

The card will also feature two handicaps over the straight 1,200 metres, the Prix du Champ Durand Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Prix des Hautes Mottes, as well as the Prix de Granville, a maiden for twelve two-year-olds over 1,200 metres, and the Prix d’Asnelles, run over 1,400 metres. The going is expected to be good to soft (3.4).