Maurice de Gheest at Deauville

Feature of a high class card today at Deauville is the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300 metres at 16.15. This has been won for the past 2 years by Freddie Head´s Marchand d´Or (Davy Bonilla), who ha good prospects of landing te hat-trick, especially with te Head stable currently in excellent form. However there is little between him and US Ranger (Aidan O´Brien/ Johnny Murtagh), whom he beat by a head in Newmarket´s July Cup after the latter looked all over the winner. With 16 runners this is by no means a two horse race. O´Brien´s second string Astronomer Royal (Christophe Soumillon) was only a length behind the two principals at Newmarket, but would prefer faster going, while any further rain would improve the chances of another Irish raider Jumbajukiba (Jessica Harrington/ Johan Victoire). The other group race on the card is the Prix de Pomone at 15.45 for fillies and mares over 2500 metres. Only 6 runners but all of them are in with a chance.On last year´s form Mrs. Lindsay (Francois Rohaut/ Christophe Lemaire), winner of the Prix Vermeille, should score, but she has twice run below that level this year. Anna Pavova (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan) loves soft ground and could be a major factor, while the German-breds Avanti Polonia (Freddie Head/ Davy Bonilla) and Turfrose (André Fabre/ Stephane Pasquier) cannot be discounted. Three German-trained runners on the card are Highness (Werner Baltromei/ Dominique Boeuf) in the 2000 metres claiming race at 15.15, and Pirina (Hans Blume/ Johan Victoire) and Salliustra (Mario Hofer/ Dominique Boeuf), who both run in a claiming race for 3yo´s over the long distance of 3000 metres at 17.20.