With major events on both sides of the Atlantic, it is a big weekend on the Breeders’ Cup Challenge front when it comes to ‘Win and You’re In’ races for the FanDuel Mile at Del Mar on November 6.
On Saturday, a guaranteed spot in the turf highlight is up for grabs in the G1 Fourstardave at Saratoga, and then on Sunday in France comes the centrepiece of the Deauville summer holiday season as world #1 Palace Pier bids to complete back-to-back victories in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois.
The €1 million feature over the straight mile at the chi-chi Normandy venue on the Cote Fleurie has been won recently by the likes of Dubai Millennium and his son Dubawi, Manduro and Kingman – plus several horses who have left their mark on the Breeders’ Cup headed by those great mares Miesque and Goldikova.
The 2021 renewal is set to feature the usual clash of the miling generations, as Palace Pier and last year’s runner-up Alpine Star are taken on that hardy 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare.
Shock Breeders’ Cup winner Order Of Australia represents Ballydoyle while Richard Hannon saddles 3-year-old Chindit, meaning that visitors provide five of the eight runners.
France’s master trainer Andre Fabre, who is bidding for a record eighth success, fields impressive Chantilly winner Victor Ludorum and lightly raced Midtown in a Godolphin double act.
Prix Jacques le Marois: A bit of context
History: established in 1921, the race is named in memory of important owner-breeder Count Jacques le Marois (1865-1920), president of the Société des Courses de Deauville. Originally restricted to 3-year-olds, it was opened up to older horses in 1952. In a longstanding sponsorship, Deauville’s most prestigious race has been backed by the Fresnay-le-Buffard stud farm since 1986.
Star turn: Miesque (1988) – on her first run since May, the great French racemare became the first horse to win twice when completing back-to-back successes with a decisive verdict over star 3-year-old Warning, with July Cup hero Soviet Star also among those beaten in a proper championship contest. She went on to win her second Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November.
Most wins (trainer): Francois Boutin (7): Nonoalco (1974), Miesque (1987, 1988), Priolo (1990), Hector Protector (1991), Exit To Nowhere (1992), East Of The Moon (1994).
Andre Fabre (7): Polish Precedent (1989), Miss Satamixa (1995), Vahorimix (2001), Banks Hill (2002), Manduro (2007), Esoterique (2015), Al Wukair (2017).
Most wins (jockey): Freddy Head (6): Carabella (1967), Lyphard (1972), Northjet (1981), Miesque (1987, 1988), Hector Protector (1991) – plus three as trainer with Tamayuz (2008), Goldikova (2009), Moonlight Cloud (2013).
Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The winner will receive will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the FanDuel Mile at the 2-day championships at Del Mar on November 5-6. A minimum travel allowance of $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside North America; the Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup programme or nominated by the pre-entry deadline to receive the rewards.
Already qualified (6): Jet Dark (Queen’s Plate), Succeso (Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella), Smooth Like Strait (Shoemaker Mile), Danon Kingly (Yasuda Kinen), Palace Pier (Queen Anne Stakes), Alcohol Free (Sussex Stakes).
Breeders’ Cup past performance
Though last year’s winner Palace Pier did not go to Keeneland, the Marois has had strong links with the Breeders’ Cup ever since the beginning as 1984 victor Lear Fan went on to finish seventh at the inaugural event at Hollywood Park.
The Niarchos name looms large over the race both as sponsors, via the family’s Normandy stud farm, and as winners, their colours having been carried to victory on no fewer than nine occasions. Four times have their horses gone to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile after Deauville: the great Miesque (1987 and 1988), Spinning World (1997) and Six Perfections (2003). Last year’s third Circus Maximus was second in the Mile.
Goldikova scored in 2009 before completing the middle leg of her historic Breeders’ Cup hat-trick. Since then, the best effort by a Jacques Le Marois winner came in 2012 with Excelebration, who came fourth behind Wise Dan in the Mile.
Top contenders for 2021
Palace Pier (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori) – world #1 scored on heavy ground 12 months ago, beating Sunday’s rival Alpine Star more decisively than three-quarter-length margin suggests; missed Sussex Stakes through blood disorder after taking career record to eight out of nine in Queen Anne at Royal Ascot; worthy favourite though meets younger rivals for first time as he chases fifth G1 triumph.
Poetic Flare (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) – tough customer, running in sixth consecutive G1 in just over three months following Sussex Stakes defeat behind Alcohol Free on soft ground; better on faster - witness his brilliant 4½-length victory in St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot; would probably have completed Guineas double but for testing conditions at the Curragh, which favoured stablemate Mac Swiney (reopposes here).
Alpine Star (Jessica Harrington/Shane Foley) – G1 winner representing sponsors the Niarchos family has never been out of first three in eight career starts; runner-up in three French G1s in the second half of last season, among them this race, where she was easily held by Palace Pier; needed the run on seasonal debut after “minor setback” when beaten at odds-on in listed race at York and likely to come on markedly for that outing; suited by return to 1m.
What they say
Thady Gosden (co-trainer of Palace Pier)
“Obviously it was frustrating to miss the Sussex Stakes with Palace Pier, but he seems to have come back to himself and Frankie was very happy with him when he worked him last Saturday. He’s on course for the Jacques le Marois rather than heading to York, but it looks a competitive race with the likes of Poetic Flare in there. Palace Pier is pretty versatile as regards ground and we just hope he can run well again to set him up for the autumn.” (Racing Post)
Alan Cooper (racing manager to Alpine Star’s owners, the Niarchos family):
"The conditions should be very different this year. The ground is soft at the moment and the forecast is dry, so it should be good racing ground. Last year it was very deep. She needed to have a run before we considered coming to Deauville. It didn’t quite pan out as we’d hoped, but she came out of it very well and it brought her along so she should be on top of her game on Sunday.” (Attheraces)
Andre Fabre (trainer of Victor Ludorum)
“He won nicely last time and if the ground dries up that will help him. It will have helped his confidence winning last time out. I’m quite confident he’s going to run well. I haven’t been that impressed by the 3-year-old generation this season, to be honest – so I think Palace Pier remains the one to beat.” (Attheraces)