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Deauville hosts an exciting card of racing on Sunday with two Group 1 events - the Prix Jean Romanet over ten furlongs and the six furlong Prix Morny for juveniles.
Via Sistina appears to be the mare to beat in the 1m2f Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet, despite her recent defeat in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. A six length winner of the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes on seasonal reappearance, the daughter of Fastnet Rock stepped into Group 1 company in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on her second run and comfortably beat a competitive field, including the re-opposing Above The Curve. The form of her Dahlia Stakes win has been given a boost since with Al Husn beating Nashwa in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The return to twelve furlongs will be key for the George Boughey-trained mare and she also appreciates ease in the ground.
Via Sistina's main opposition could be the French-trained Mqse De Sevigne, who was a surprise victor in the one mileGroup 1 Prix Rothschild. The Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old improved for a drop back to a mile and the return to this distance is an interesting move. She was only beaten a nose in the Listed Prix de la Pepiniere and her second in the Group 2 Prix Corrida has proven to be a fair piece of form - Above The Curve won with Nashwa back in fourth.
Aidan O'Brien's Above The Curve is proving to be a solid yard-stick over ten furlongs, having won the Group 2 Prix Corrida at Saint Cloud in May. She has since placed third in the Pretty Polly and second behind Al Husn in the Nassau Stakes - both results are strong pieces of form. The daughter of American Pharoah may find it difficult to reverse form with Via Sistina in conditions that will suit the pair, but recent performances put her firmly in the mix.
The Aga Khan-owned Darkaniya deserves a mention, having defeated Mqse De Sevigne by a nose in the Listed Prix de la Pepiniere. She has shown considerable improvement on her last two outings and a place looks possible.
WIN: VIA SISTINA
A very competitive field of colts and fillies line up for the 6f Group 1 Prix Morny, headed by Ramatuelle. One of two fillies in the field, Ramatuelle was a very comfortable winner of the Group 2 Robert Papin at Chantilly on her first attempt over six furlongs. She beat Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty by four lengths - he was only two and a half lengths back in fourth in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes behind the re-opposing Valiant Force. Ramatuelle's form is rock solid and the fillies allowance is an additional positive.
Aidan O'Brien's River Tiber has been the subject of media interest this week after it was revealed that the colt has suffered a setback in training. An impressive ten length winner of a Navan maiden on debut, River Tiber followed up with a comfortable victory at Naas in late May. He stepped up to six furlongs for the first time at Royal Ascot, recording a neck success in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes and has not been seen on the racetrack since. The son of Wootton Bassett is entitled to be firmly in the mix, but the news about his minor training issue would be a concern.
Clive Cox's Jasour appeared to relish the step up to six furlongs when taking the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket on his third racecourse start. An improving colt, he was withdrawn from the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when the ground turned soft and may be a questionable runner dependant on conditions at Deauville. In Jasour's absence, the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Vandeek ran out a comfortable victor in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He lacks experience after only two starts but has done little wrong and can continue to progress.
Elite Status is the only horse with proven Group form in these conditions. Third in the five furlong Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, the colt returned to winning ways with a success in the Group 3 Prix Cabourg, which is the traditional trial race for the Morny over the same course and distance. Although there is probably a question mark over the quality of that form compared to his rival's recent victories, the son of Havana Grey could only beat what was in front of him and did so in very comfortable style.
WIN: ELITE STATUS