By Tom Frary
If Thursday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was supposed to be a stern test of the ability of Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–La Pomme D'Amour {GB}, by Peintre Celebre), it failed to plumb the depths of Isa Salman Al Khalifa's bright prospect as he came back from a brief absence to shine at Deauville. Given time to mature without the stresses of preparing for the elite races since his six-length G2 Dante Stakes success at York in May, the William Haggas-trained chestnut looked comfortable throughout giving most of his rivals a headstart.
Despite letting his compatriot Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) disappear heading into the straight, one look at Tom Marquand's body language was enough to reveal what he had underneath him and with coaxing Economics was able to bridge the gap by the time they hit the 100-metre marker. Surging clear from there, the 11-10 favourite had two lengths in hand of the Brian Meehan-trained G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner at the line and a large amount in reserve, with another British-trained colt who had previously shown smart form in the Listed Heron Stakes winner Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a further six lengths back in third.
“I'm very pleased with him, he had a bit of a fight with Brian's horse and he stayed on well,” Haggas said of the 160,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 graduate. “I think Brian's horse is a pretty nice horse and the first four home were in the right order, so that suggests it might have been quite a good race. It's the firmest ground he's run on and I'm not sure he needs that. Who knows how much he'll improve and he was fit enough to do it if he's good enough. The natural place is the Irish Champion Stakes, as it's sponsored by Bahrain's royal family and he's in the Champion Stakes. All being well, it'll be those two.”
Jake Warren, representing the owner, added, “I think it was a very strong performance and he picked up very well and didn't have a hard race. We're delighted and the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion will probably be the focus.”
🏆𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔 (@TomMarquand) triomphe dans le Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr.2), quelques semaines après son succès dans les Dante Stakes (Gr.2).
Le pensionnaire de William Haggas devance Jayarebe et Almaqam.
👉 Economics succède à 𝑨𝒄𝒆 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 au palmarès de ce… pic.twitter.com/ZsfxKHgROs
— Equidia (@equidia) August 15, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Economics is out of Guy Reed's La Pomme D'Amour, whose career tally featured two wins in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone. The family features one of his breakthrough performers in Warpath (GB), his Ebor-winning half-brother Dakota (Ire), and the group performer Apache (GB). La Pomme D'Amour's yearling colt by Nathaniel (Ire) was a bargain 19,000gns purchase by Midland Equine at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
Thursday, Deauville, France
PRIX GUILLAUME D'ORNANO-G2, €400,000, Deauville, 8-15, 3yo, 10fT, 2:04.30, gd.
1–ECONOMICS (GB), 128, c, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: La Pomme d'Amour (GB) (MGSW-Fr, $313,702), by Peintre Celebre
2nd Dam: Winnebago (GB), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Siouan, by So Blessed (GB)
(42,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 160,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Copgrove Hall Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. €228,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 4-3-0-0, €366,420. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jayarebe (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Alakhana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€180,000 Ylg '22 AROCT). O-Iraj Parvizi; B-Oliver Pawle (FR); T-Brian Meehan. €88,000.
3–Almaqam (GB), 128, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Talmada, by Cape Cross (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Ed Walker. €42,000.
Margins: 2, 6, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 5.60, 7.60.
Also Ran: Bright Picture (Fr), Arrow Eagle (Fr), Safwan (GB), Wahdan (Ire).
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