Mqse De Sevigne completed her preparations for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as she came from last to first to maintain her unbeaten record this season at the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet in Deauville.
Andre Fabre’s talented mare won the Prix Rothschild and Romanet last summer and is long overdue for a second repeat in the hands of Alexis Pouchin.
After settling at the back of a five-strong field for much of the 10-furlong contest, the five-year-old was produced for the challenge in the straight and knuckled down well to claim victory by a head, with his rider wanting to make sure he didn’t have a difficult time.
Joseph O’Brien saddled second and third in American Sonja and Maxux, with Blue Rose Cen running his best race of the season so far in a close-up fourth.
After his victory 12 months ago, Mqse De Sevigne dropped back to a mile in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, finishing second behind Inspiral, but this season he will step up to the half mile for the first time in a bid to provide his trainer with a record-extending ninth victory in Arc.
Coral has cut his odds to 33/1 from 20/1 for Europe’s premier middle-distance contest, but Fabre is still hoping to see his line-up at ParisLongchamp in early October.
“She is a very good mare, she is beautiful and has everything you can expect from a good thoroughbred,” said the leading trainer. Sky Sports Race.
“Remember he won all the races by a nose or a short head. This (Arc) is the plan and it will stay that way – we will go straight to the Arc.”
Friendly Soul continues to upgrade in Deauville
Friendly Soul continued his profitable summer with a home victory in Alec Head’s Sumbe Prix at Deauville.
Successful on his juvenile debut at Kempton in December, John and Thady Gosden landed the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket as he returned to action before disappointing as favorite for the Musidora Stakes at York.
Jiwa Ramah won Sumbe Prix Alec Head, photo: Zuzanna Lupa
However, he showed his true colors when beating his rivals in the Group Three Valiant Stakes at Ascot last month and repeated that feat at Group Two level in France.
After running away from the flag-fall, Friendly Soul remained in front at the top of the front straightaway and when Candala briefly looked like a big threat, the English raider gave generously to Kieran Shoemark to maintain his advantage, with Birthe finishing too well for. beat Candala for second.
“She’s a very good filly. We didn’t expect the rain that came here and consequently the ground was tacky and held and she wasn’t very happy, but she managed to show her class and win,” John Gosden told Sky Sports Racing.
“I think she will be a better filly on good ground, or even good for real. We’ll just see where the races in the autumn and next year take her, but she’s very advanced and the ground doesn’t show her. best day this.
“I think one mile and a quarter in Europe is perfect for him. I will not try to go one and a half miles here, in America he will ask a bit more if you want on flat ovals.
“We put him in the Prix l’Opera and if the ground is like in ParisLongchamp last year, we will definitely run, if not, we will not run.
“We can see about the trip to Del Mar (Breeders Cup). Mr. (George) Strawbridge (the owner) lives in America.”
Double Star Major at Prix Kergorlay
The Double Major cemented his status as France’s best player with a dominant display at the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay.
Four-year-old Christophe Ferland was delighted at the end of 2023, entering the Prix Chaudenay at the Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp before claiming Group One honors at the Prix Royal-Oak.
Double Major landed Sumbe Prix Kergolay, photo: Zuzanna Lupa
He has been beaten in two starts of the current campaign, finishing third behind Sevenna’s Knight in consecutive races in May, but got back to winning ways in the Prix Maurice de Nieui and is a good order to follow this one-mile-seven. – Group Two furlongs.
Sent straight into the lead by Stephane Pasquier, Double Major kicked the turbo from the home turn and his rivals soon followed suit, with Goya Senora the best.
