As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the $1m Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on November 3
Sunday’s Prix Morny is the two-year-old highlight of Deauville’s superb summer festival, and this year’s renewal looks exceptionally strong.
The Morny is a G1 event over six furlongs with the richest of histories and it was won in 1991 by the brilliant Arazi on his way to that unforgettable performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.
That was long before the ‘Win And You’re In’ concept of the Breeders Cup Challenge series was introduced, but an expenses-paid trip to Santa Anita in November for the Juvenile Turf Sprint offers a tempting proposition for the winner of this qualifier.
However, Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes is often the next stop for colts who win the Morny, and nine of them have won both races this century.
Mind you, at Belmont in 2001, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Johannesburg showed that it was possible to go on from success at Deauville to win the Middle Park and then to score at the Breeders’ Cup. Again, like Arazi, the Ballydoyle colt landed the Juvenile on dirt before the advent of any two-year-old turf races at North America’s end-of-season championships.
Sunday’s edition of the Prix Morny features two Royal Ascot winners in River Tiber and Valiant Force plus seven others, among them impressive fellow G2 winners in Jasour, Vandeek and Ramatuelle.
Christopher Head-trained filly Ramatuelle, owned by basketball star Tony Parker, has been aimed here since winning Chantilly’s Prix Robert Papin in terrific style and has a clear chance, although the poor recent record of French-trained runners – only three winners in the last 20 runnings – sounds a note of caution.
None can be ruled out, and Nurlan Bizakov will be especially keen to win with G3 winner Sacred Angel, as his company Sumbe signed a five-year deal in May to sponsor the Morny and the remainder of Sunday’s card. It is the racehorse and stud owner’s first venture into sponsorship.
Key horses
River Tiber (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) – shown high level of form on all three starts, winning at Navan, Naas and Royal Ascot; plenty of speed when winning a strong renewal of G2 Coventry Stakes over this trip on the last-named course but has reportedly had an interrupted preparation.
Ramatuelle (Christopher Head/Aurelien Lemaitre) – very impressive beating colts in prestigious G2 Prix Robert Papin over 6f at Chantilly last time, winning by four lengths easing down from a useful Aidan O’Brien representative [His Majesty]; clear chance for rising star of French training scene.
Elite Status (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) – looked really good when a five-length winner of Sandown’s National Stakes (Listed), but only third behind Valiant Force at Royal Ascot when hot favourite for G2 Norfolk; back on track when upped to 6f here last month in G3 company, beating today’s rival Sajir convincingly.
Jasour (Clive Cox/Rossa Ryan) – came from behind to win going away in G2 July Stakes over 6f on fast ground at Newmarket; non-runner since at Goodwood on account of soft going.
Valiant Force (Adrian Murray/Kevin Stott) – no apparent fluke about his 150-1 win in G2 Norfolk over 5f at Royal Ascot two months ago (favourite Elite Status back in third, Thunder Blue in fifth) but not seen since; stable had an easy 2yo G1 winner in Ireland last weekend; Thunder Blue carries same colours of owner Amo Racing.
Vandeek (Simon & Ed Crisford/Andrea Atzeni) –unbeaten in Nottingham maiden and G2 at Goodwood, both over 6f, winning the latter comfortably on soft ground.
Sacred Angel (Charlie Johnston/Jason Hart) – has won the last two of her three starts, including G3 for fillies over 6f at Ascot last month, where she made all: represents the race sponsor.
Shall we talk about it?
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of River Tiber: “He had a setback a couple of weeks ago and we are a bit worried about his fitness. He had a hold up and missed his second-last piece of work, but he did a piece of work this week which has given him the chance to go, and he seems to have been in good form since.” (speaking to Sky Sports Racing)
Adrian Murray, trainer of Valiant Force: “I couldn’t believe he was 150-1 at Royal Ascot as he’s a right good horse and was going to be there or thereabouts. He’s had an away day at the Curragh and worked brilliantly, and he arrived in Deauville on Wednesday. He was bouncing coming off the box and we are very excited.” (speaking to Sky Sports Racing)
Clive Cox, trainer of Jasour: "We're very happy with him. He was meant to go to Goodwood but the ground was just too soft but the Morny is a race we hold in really high regard and we've liked to run a couple of our good ones in it [won with Reckless Abandon in 2012]."
Graham Dench’s verdict
Aidan O’Brien surely wouldn’t be risking River Tiber’s unbeaten record if he wasn’t happy with him. However, the recent hold-up remains a worry and he’ll have to be at his very best to beat RAMATUELLE if the filly’s recent win in the Prix Robert Papin win was as good as it looked, as she was barely off the bridle there and just needed shaking up to go clear. This is no two-horse race though, and none of the others can be ruled out entirely. Elite Status, who looked so good at Sandown and was back to form here last time, might be the pick of them.
• Visit the Breeders’ Cup website and the Breeders’ Cup Challenge web page
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires