Group One Darley Prix Morny

Andy Smith | @AndySmithRacing

Deauville - August 20 2022
Deauville 12:33
1(5)
Frankie Dettori

Persian Force

J: Frankie Dettori
T: Richard Hannon
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: N/A
Days: 15

Richard Hannon’s 2 year old earmarked himself as one to follow this season when winning his debut over 5 furlongs by a wide margin. He then followed that up smartly in a small field conditions race.

Only denied by an impressive Bradsell in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, he got his group success on his next outing to win the Close Brothers July Stakes at prohibitive odds.

Last seen over in Ireland in group one company, he was no match for the lethal Little Big Bear who left him for dead. Persian Force coming a well beaten 2nd. He’ll need to take a step up from that to beat some smart juveniles here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
24/09/22NMK6Gd9-23
21/08/22DEA6Gd9-02
06/08/22CUR6Gd9-52
07/07/22NMK6GF9-21
14/06/22ASC6GF9-32
Deauville - August 20 2022
Deauville 12:33
2(2)
Christophe Soumillon

The Ridler

J: Christophe Soumillon
T: Richard Fahey
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: N/A
Days: 66

Despite being well beaten on debut, The Ridler learnt from his first time outing to improve smartly and win a novice handily on his second start.

Moved to a class 2 conditions race off the back of his initial success, he was beaten by just under a length into 3rd place in what looked a very average race. Sent for the Norfolk Stakes off the back of that, he scored at Royal Ascot at a massive 50/1 and easily held favourite Walbank back in 2nd.

He moves up in trip here which looks like it’ll suit and he likely has more improvement to come from his Ascot win.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
21/08/22DEA6Gd9-05
16/06/22ASC5GF9-31
28/05/22BEV5GF9-43
06/05/22RIP5Gd9-71
23/04/22RIP5Gd9-54
Deauville - August 20 2022
Deauville 12:33
4(1)
Ryan Moore

Blackbeard

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: N/A
Days: 35

The Aidan O’Brien first string is clearly Blackbeard with the booking of Ryan Moore. Blackbeard has been incredibly busy this season having already had six career runs.

He started like with a 5 furlong maiden win at Dundalk before denying Crispy Cat to a listed win at the Curragh. Scoring a group 3 event off the back of that, he was a well fancied favourite for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot but looked horribly outpaced, eventually coming 4th.

Denied again in a group 2 back over in Ireland 11 days after his Ascot defeat, he looked back to his best when easily beating The Antarctic over this course and distance last month.

Likely to be hard to beat again here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
21/08/22DEA6Gd9-01
17/07/22CHA6Gd9-31
25/06/22CUR6Gd9-52
14/06/22ASC6GF9-34
21/05/22CUR6Gd/Y9-51
Deauville - August 20 2022
Deauville 12:33
3(3)
Ioritz Mendizabal

The Antarctic

J: Ioritz Mendizabal
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-0
OR: N/A
Days: 19

This Dark Angel colt is famously a brother to Battaash and has been an impressive sort for connections this season, already running six times.

Scoring on debut on soft ground over 5 furlongs, he backed that up in fine fashion to win a small field conditions race. Well fancied in the betting for the Norfolk stakes, he looked well outpaced at Ascot and only managed to come home in 4th. Dropped down to listed company off the back of that he again shaped like 5 furlongs was too sharp for him.

Unable to go with stablemate Blackbeard at Chantilly over 6 furlongs, he dropped in grade to win here at Deauville in a group 3 event last time out. He looks held on the form with stablemate Blackbared and finished well behind Persian Force and the Ridler at Ascot.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
24/09/22NMK6Gd9-22
21/08/22DEA6Gd9-03
02/08/22DEA6GS9-01
17/07/22CHA6Gd9-32
29/06/22TIP5Y/Sft9-53
Deauville - August 20 2022
Deauville 12:33
5(4)
Tony Piccone

Manhattan Jungle

J: Tony Piccone
T: Amy Murphy
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 8-10
OR: N/A
Days: 19

Amy Murphy has kept her filly Manhattan Jungle in France for the majority of her juvenile season. Winning a couple of low level events back in April on soft ground.

After scoring a couple of easy wins, she then went on to win a listed race over the minimum trip smartly before coming back over to England for a run at Royal Ascot. She fared poorly in the Queen Mary Stakes however and only managed to come 14th.

Last seen back here in France she ran well in defeat behind the Antarctic over this course and distance, 6 furlongs looking to really suit the filly. She looks up against it here however against some really smart colts.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
17/09/22CHA6GS8-103
21/08/22DEA6Gd8-104
02/08/22DEA6GS8-102
15/06/22ASC5GF9-214
20/05/22VIC5Sft8-111