Deauville's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny has proven a happy hunting ground for Royal Ascot winners in recent years and Wathnan Racing's G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Shareholder (Not This Time) is the latest to try a unique double on Sunday. The trouble for that unbeaten colt is that he faces a real threat not just from outside his own yard but also from within. Karl Burke saddles a live second contender in Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {GB}), who may just pose the biggest danger to his stablemate having given the impression he has more in the tank despite his admirable achievements.
“They are two exciting colts,” their trainer said ahead of this “Win and You're In” GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint qualifier. “With Shareholder, it has been well-documented what we think of him and hopefully he can prove it, but I wouldn't dismiss Arabie as he is so tough. He's not a flashy horse and I think he has gone under the radar a bit–he's as hard as nails. They go there in great form and have travelled over well – they have taken it in their stride.”
Fourth in the Norfolk before winning the G2 July Stakes and finishing runner-up to TDN Rising Star Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in Sunday's G1 Phoenix Stakes, Ballydoyle's Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) goes again which may be significant given the quick turnaround. It could be that Team Ballydoyle feel that he has come on for his effort seven days ago and Aidan O'Brien is positive about his prospects. “He came out of the race very well and his canters have been getting stronger all week,” he explained. “The plan was always to go for the two races, we were thinking of that before the Curragh–he's a big, uncomplicated strong horse and we're looking forward to it.”
Also successful at Royal Ascot was Manton Thoroughbreds' Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is proven over this six-furlong trip having conquered the G2 Coventry Stakes when last seen. He joins Gousserie Racing and Sandrine Gavrois's G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), the Wertheimers' TDN Rising Star Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who was runner-up in the Cabourg, and Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's supplemented G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in a strong renewal.
Brian Meehan, who has won the Morny twice, believes that Rashabar is made of the right material and Sam Sangster agrees. “He's in incredible form at home and Brian feels he has improved,” he said. “It's a big day for the syndicate and everyone involved and we're incredibly excited. He's got the French premiums, which was definitely part of our decision to come here. He had the option of running in the Phoenix, but with the premiums this was too big of a temptation.”
“Brian feels this horse is the ideal candidate and straight after the Coventry, the first thing he said to me was 'Prix Morny'. It's a stallion-making race as well, so we have to bear that in mind and I feel he is a horse who after this is going to step up in trip and if he keeps going the way we think he is, then the Breeders' Cup could be on the ticket for later in the year,” he added.
The Home Of the Marquise…
Since re-launching her career in the 2023 G1 Prix Rothschild, Baron Edouard de Rothschild's prized mare Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has made this Normandy venue her personal fiefdom and heads back on Sunday to bid to complete a double-double of that contest and this G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet. She only has four to beat, including the out-of-form Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), so further celebrations are likely to ensue. Also at Deauville is the G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head, where George Strawbridge's G3 Valiant Stakes winner Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}) goes back up to 10 furlongs in a competitive affair which includes The Aga Khan's G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}).
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