The Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In visits Deauville this weekend when the €1 million Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois offers a guaranteed fees-paid berth in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on November 5
An abscess cost Coroebus his chance of meeting Baaeed in last month’s Qatar Sussex Stakes, but the proximity of his substitute Modern Games to the winner at the finish suggested the Godolphin colt would at least have made a race of it with the TRC Global Rankings #1.
There is no Baaeed waiting for Coroebus as he attempts to justify his favourite’s status in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois, a ‘Win And You’re In’ race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile.
However, this is Deauville’s undisputed highlight and so the Qipco 2000 Guineas winner will still face stiff opposition as he bids to become a sixth winner for Godolphin, following in the footsteps of his sire Dubawi (2005) and his grandsire Dubai Millennium, who had gained the first of his four stunning G1 wins in the corresponding race six years earlier.
Few European races have had such a bearing on the Breeders’ Cup, with Miesque (twice), Spinning World and Goldikova having all done the Jacques Le Marois/Breeders’ Cup Mile double in the same year.
Others, like Banks Hill, have won a Breeders’ Cup race either before or after winning at Deauville, while Circus Maximus, second in that Aidan O’Brien 1-2-3 in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile, had been third earlier in the year to Palace Pier here. Order Of Australia, who won that Keeneland race, was third (to Palace Pier again), 12 months later and returns again on Sunday.
That said, the Breeders’ Cup Mile is not currently on Coroebus’ agenda, as trainer Charlie Appleby has already earmarked Modern Games for the race – but it will be surprising if Keeneland on November 5 is not already in the diaries of those responsible for others here.
A big danger to Coroebus was eliminated when Baaeed’s stablemate Maljoom scoped dirty in mid-week, but the Dubawi colt faces some classy rivals all the same and he will have to do better than at Royal Ascot last time, where he only scrambled home in a blanket finish.
Inspiral, one of the royal meeting’s most impressive winners in the Coronation Stakes, could well have a big say. However, she will have to put behind her a below-par second in Newmarket’s G1 Falmouth Stakes behind old rival Prosperous Voyage, who stands in her way again.
Pick of the older runners is Joseph O’Brien’s 2021 Saratoga Derby winner State Of Rest, who drops back in distance despite having gone on to win three more international G1 events at 1m2f, including the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s G3 winners Djo Francais and Erevann are the only French-trained possibles in a line-up which also includes Bathrat Leon, a good fourth for Japan in the Sussex Stakes.
Top contenders
Coroebus (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) – top-class three-year-old who has been beaten only once in five starts; won 2000 Guineas fair and square from stablemate Native Trail, who was last season’s top juvenile, but made hard work of following up in a blanket finish to St James’s Palace Stakes; missed Sussex Stakes clash with Baaeed owing to an abscess.
Inspiral (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) – last year’s undisputed champion two-year-old filly but missed 1000 Guineas when slow coming to hand; tremendously impressive when finally reappearing in Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but beaten at 1-7 in Falmouth Stakes next time; meets colts for the first time.
State Of Rest (Joseph O’Brien/Shane Crosse) – has won four international G1s at around 1m2f, most recently making all in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot; beaten in Listed company when he last ran over a mile at three.
Prosperous Voyage (Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby) – beaten convincingly by Inspiral three times, but finally got the better of her in the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last month; close second in 1000 Guineas confirms she is a classy filly.
Shall we talk about it?
Charlie Appleby, trainer of Coroebus:“I’m a strong believer in Coroebus and in what he’s achieved. I said after Royal Ascot that it wasn’t him at his very best. As a Dubawi what he achieved in the first half of the season was always a bonus as Dubawis are always at their best in the second half of the season.”
Chris Richardson, racing manager to Inspiral’s owners:“She had a nice comeback win and you would have hoped she could have gone on from there, but it was quite a tight turnaround. The feeling after that was to give her a nice freshen-up and when she used the gallop she used before Royal Ascot her turn of foot was instant.” (speaking to Racing Post)
Joseph O’Brien, trainer of State Of Rest: “The Marois looks a good race, but we are looking forward to it. State Of Rest won nicely at Ascot and we have been happy with him since then. We will obviously see how we get on here, but going back to Australia is obviously an option after that.” (speaking to At The Races)
Ralph Beckett, trainer of Prosperous Voyage:“I think the key to Prosperous Voyage really is a straight track. Maybe Inspiral didn't turn up (at Newmarket), maybe she bounced, but this filly ran her race and that is all that really matters if you are me.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
COROEBUS seemingly wasn’t 100 per cent at Royal Ascot but still got the job done. Having looked an outstanding miler when beating his stablemate Native Trail in the 2000 Guineas, he is fancied to give Godolphin a sixth win in the race. Inspiral, who can perhaps be excused her only defeat in the Falmouth Stakes, is feared most.
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