Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge moves to France for the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday [August 13] at Deauville, which offers a fees-paid berth in the $2m Mile at Santa Anita on November 4
Inspiral bids to emulate her former stablemate Palace Pier as a dual winner of the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday when she bids to repeat last year’s victory in the famous €1m contest on Sunday at Deauville.
The three-time G1 winner is making an unusually quick return in the French feature – sponsored as usual by the Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard – as she is back in action just 11 days after finishing last of five behind the brilliant Paddington in a Qatar Sussex Stakes run in conditions that blunted her potent change of gear.
The Cheveley Park Stud filly, who hasn’t won since last year’s race, once again meets Light Infantry and Erevann, second and third 12 months ago.
Inspiral ought to be far happier if the forecast drying weekend weather materialises and was duly installed as early favourite with British bookmakers. She would be a fourth successive winner of the race for the Gosden stable, and a fifth in all.
Christopher Head hopes to further enhance a remarkable family record when he saddles the fast-improving front-runner Big Rock, easy winner of two G3s over 1m1f before tiring only late on after stretching the field from the start over 1m2f in the Prix du Jockey Club.
He started a hot favourite there and still finished a good second to Ace Impact, with Marhaba Ya Sanafi (now ridden by world #1 Ryan Moore) back in third.
Head’s father Freddy won the Jacques Le Marois six times as a jockey, including twice on dual Breeders’ Mile winner Miesque, and three times as a trainer, notably with three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova, who was the last horse to win both races in 2009.
British-based Kevin Ryan has two live chances. He saddles Triple Time, a shock winner of Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes from Inspiral (who ranged alongside but couldn’t get past), and the three-year-old Hi Royal, who was runner-up to Chaldean in a Qipco 2000 Guineas. Champion jockey William Buick comes in for the ride on the latter.
Three-year-olds have won seven of the last 10 runnings, and Big Rock, Hi Royal and Marhaba Ya Sanaf are joined by easy Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess and German 2000 Guineas winner Angers. Last year’s Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Onesto races for the first time since the Japan Cup last November.
Key horses
Inspiral (John and Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) – beat Light Infantry by a neck here a year ago, having previously been an easy winner of Royal Ascot’s G1 Coronation Stakes; met with a shock defeat in between, and beaten both starts this year, only narrowly by Triple Time at Royal Ascot, but then comprehensively behind Paddington last week at Goodwood, when unsuitably testing ground was a viable explanation.
Triple Time (Kevin Ryan/Neil Callan) – big improver in second half of last season and stepped up markedly again when beating Inspiral a neck in Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on only start since, when he perhaps wasn’t given due credit; races very enthusiastically, but usually a strong finisher all the same.
Big Rock (Christopher Head/Aurelien Lemaitre) – rapid strides since getting off the mark in handicap at Chantilly in February, winning Listed race on same course and pair of G3s over 1m1f at Longchamp and Chantilly again; won last-named race with ridiculous ease after making all, and caught by Ace Impact only inside the final furlong when stepped up in class and distance for Prix du Jockey Club; fascinating contender, although the straight mile on likely drying ground presents a very different challenge.
Erevann (Jean-Claude Rouget/Christophe Soumillon) – close third here last year and followed that with a good win from The Revenant in deep ground in another G1 at Longchamp; not at his best twice this spring and hasn’t raced since May.
Light Infantry (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer) – hasn’t won since 2021 but twice second here in G1s and gave Inspiral a late fright here a year ago; placed in two more G1s this summer, including when third behind Triple Time and Inspiral at Royal Ascot.
Good Guess (Francois Chappet/Stephane Pasquier) – left previous form behind when a three-length winner of G1 Prix Jean Prat over 7f here on soft ground last time; form is hard to weigh up, but the more positive readings give him every chance.
Life In Motion (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) – yet to win in better than Listed company but ran a career best when beaten only a neck by Mqse De Sevigne in G1 for fillies and mares over C&D last time; trainer has won this seven times, a joint record.
Shall we talk about it?
Chris Richardson, racing manager to Inspiral’s owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud: “She just didn't act on the ground at Goodwood. Frankie looked after her after he made his move to the rail to try to come alongside and made his challenge which was relatively short-lived. Obviously we are coming back quite quickly – however Frankie accepted it pretty quickly and it's not like she's been heavily campaigned.” (speaking to Racing Post)
Christopher Head, trainer of Big Rock: “He has that high cruising speed and he is able to save a bit for the finish. That cruising speed is just innate in him and he doesn’t use up a lot of gas doing it; I think his cardio and respiratory capacity is extraordinary. He has a heart like a nuclear reactor.”
Kevin Ryan, trainer of Hi Royal and Triple Time: “Both horses are in good form. Triple Time was very good at Royal Ascot and I’m looking forward to running him again. Hi Royal has always been a very consistent horse other than his last start and he’s been working well. It should be drying out all the time.” (speaking to sportinglife.com)
Stephane Pasquier, rider of Good Guess: “The Prix Jean Prat win was not really a surprise. Good Guess was fantastic when he won the Prix Djebel but still needed to grow into himself. He can do less or more in terms of distance – he can do everything.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
It’s not difficult to forgive Inspiral’s disappointing Goodwood effort on horrible ground and a repeat of last year’s defeat of Light Infantry and Erevann would be no great surprise, but 11 days is a very quick turnaround for a high-class filly. The exciting front-runner Big Rock is another with a question mark over him, now tackling a straight mile, while it remains to be seen if Good Guess is as good as he looked last time. In the circumstances TRIPLE TIME could be the answer. He has never stopped improving and really stuck his neck out when beating Inspiral at Royal Ascot.
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