Three Group Races to Launch an Exceptional Weekend in Deauville

On the eve of the prestigious Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois (Group 1), Saturday’s race meeting at Deauville promises to be a particularly enticing opener. Three Group races will set the pace for the afternoon, culminating in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Group 2) — a key event for three-year-olds that can serve as a stepping stone to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Group 3) and the Morocco Cup – Prix de Lieurey (Group 3) will round out a high-quality programme, kicking off a weekend placed under the banner of excellence.

The Prix Guillaume d’Ornano will mark the return of Cualificar (Lope de Vega), making his seasonal reappearance after a superb second-place finish in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1), where he competed against the best of his generation. Among his rivals will be the British-trained Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor), bred by the French Haras de Beaufay — a consistent colt who hasn't passed the post first in nearly a year, but remains highly competitive at this level. Adding international intrigue to the race will be the Japanese runner Alohi Alii (Duramente), who has already shown considerable talent on the Japanese racing scene. He will be partnered with French jockey Christophe Lemaire, who has been riding in Japan for over a decade and has become a major star there!

In the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Group 3), French champion Goliath (Adlerflug) — co-owned by John Stewart, a key figure in the Netflix series Race For The Crown — will make his debut at Deauville. He will be seeking redemption after a performance in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) that was simply too poor to be true. In the Morocco Cup – Prix de Lieurey (Group 3), the filly Better Together (Oasis Dream), winner of the Prix Imprudence (Group 3) on this track earlier in the year, will aim to return to winning ways following respectable runs in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1), where she finished 5th and 6th respectively.