Five Groups I were on display during this summer meeting at the La Touques racecourse (Calvados).
After
Highfield Princess
(Prix Maurice de Gheest),
Saffron Beach
(Prix Rothschild) and
Inspiral
(Prix Jacques le Marois), the competitors trained across the Channel again distinguished themselves, yesterday afternoon on the Deauville turf.
The Prix Morny, the first Group I of this Sunday meeting, did not escape the visitors, no Frenchman was in the running, and saw the victory of the expected
Blackbeard
.
This 2-year-old colt confirms his success acquired last month at Chantilly (Oise), in the Prix Robert Papin (Gr. II).
After taking the train on his own, he started well despite the strong attack from
Persian Force
and thus allowed his mentor Aidan O'Brien and his jockey Ryan Moore to take a fifth victory this weekend after a stroke of four performed yesterday at the Curragh (Ireland).
In foam in front of the stalls, this son of
No Nay Never
has a bit of character, but that does not detract from his quality: "He got angry before the start as usual", analyzes the Irish trainer who had not won this race for 21 years and the coronation of
Johannesburg.
" It's a star "
And to savor with humor: “He is a little proud of himself because he knows that he is a star (laughs…).
He is a precocious colt who has speed.
As for the rest of his program, several options are possible, admits his mentor: “He may be seen again in the Middle Park Stakes, on September 24 in Newmarket (England) or in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at ParisLongchamp (2 october).
The Breeders's Cup Turf Sprint (Gr. I) scheduled for November 5 in Keeneland (United States) is also possible.
»
🏆𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝟰) ( R.-L. Moore / AP O'Brien ) wins the Darley Prix Morny - Darley Series Final (Gr.1⃣) in Deauville.
🥈𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓬𝓮
🥉𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓬 pic.twitter.com/K3wHfyG56W
— Equidia (@equidia) August 21, 2022
A new foreign twin
As for the Prix Jean Romanet, the second Group I, it did not allow the French to get their heads out of the water.
The French hopes rested on
Verry Elleegant,
now coached by Francis-Henri Graffard.
The winner of the Melbourne Cup (Australia) last year finished seventh and good last, far behind
Aristia, consigned
by the formidable Richard Hannon: "She is a very good filly who has taken some time to be at the top this season .
She will be seen again either in the Prix de l'Opéra (October 2) at ParisLongchamp or in the Qipco British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes on October 15 at Ascot.
»
And to concretize foreign supremacy, second place in this Group I was obtained by
Rosscarbery,
trained by the Irishman, Patrick Twomey.
🏆𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮 (𝟴) ( S.-M. Levey / R. Hannon ) wins the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Gr.1⃣) in Deauville.
🥈𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓫𝓮𝓻𝔂
🥉𝓔𝓫𝓪𝓲𝔂𝓻𝓪 pic.twitter.com/Ut6VFwYuvl
— Equidia (@equidia) August 21, 2022