Fantastic field at Deauville

A fantastic race is in store this afternoon, where the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at 15.40 has attrracted a very strong field - 9 of the 11 runners are Group One winners. The two who have not done so are the German raider Indomito (Andreas Wöhler/ Olivier Peslier) and this season´s German 2,000 Guineas winner Caspar Netscher (Alan McCabe/ Shane Kelly) and, much as we would like to see these run well, it is almost impoossible to imagine that they will be involved the finish. The opposition is simply too stroing, and is headed by last year´s German 2,000 Guineas winner Excelebration (Aidan O´Brien/ Ryan Moore), who went on to prove himself as Europe´s second-best miler. The best of course is Frankel, who has beaten Excelebration almost out of sight on the five occasions they have met, and Frankel´s absence today is no doubt the reason for such a strong field.

However the Irish colt may not have things all his own way. There are 4 British runners all with high class form - Cityscape (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), winner of the Dubai Duty Free, Most Improved (Brian Meehan/ Kieren Fallon), winner of the St. James´s Palace Stakes, and John Gosden´s two 3yo fillies Fallen For You, winner of the Coronation Stakes and the choice of stable jockey William Buick, and Elusive Kate (Frankie Dettori), winner of the Prix Rothschild here a fortnight ago, where she beat the German-owned Golden Lilac (André Fabre/ Maxime Guyon) into second. Immortal Verse (Robert Collet/ Gerald Mossé) was only fifth there, but she should be judged on her great win from Goldikova in this race last year and her shrewd trainer has certainly trained her just for today´s race.

However the one we fancy most is another filly, Moonlight Verse (Freddie Head/ Thierry Jarnet), whlose zttrainer has an excellent terclord at tjhisd meezting. Moonlight Verse herself is 3 from 3 here, including winning the Maurice de Gheest twice, most recently last Sunday. That race is over 1300 metres and in fact she has only ever run once over a mile - when well beaten in last year´s 1,000 Guineas, but the way she won last week suggests that the distance should be no problem for her now.

There is also a German runner in the other group race at Deauville today, the Prix Minerve for 3yo fillies at 16.10 -Geatüt Görlsdorf´s Registara (Markus Klug/ James Doyle). She ran well against Imagery in a listed trace at Hanover last time, but will do well to be placed in this company. Our fancy is the Aga Khan´s Mandinista (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire)