With the mile Classics now within sight, Deauville is the focus on Thursday with the venue hosting the G3 Prix Djebel and G3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs on the straight track. In the Djebel, which acts as a warm-up for any English and French 2000 Guineas hopefuls, Gerard Ryan's Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) bids to continue the fairytale for the Stephanie Nigge stable. Successful in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over a mile on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud in early October, the bay again encountered those conditions when four-lengths second to Van Gogh (American Pharoah) in the G1 Criterium International over the same course and distance later that month. He meets 3S Race Horse Management AG's Hiroo Shimizu-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Midlife Crisis (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was successful by five lengths in a mile conditions event on Chantilly's Polytrack in November, while further intrigue is provided by the Mar. 9 Chantilly conditions scorer Pimento (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) by virtue of the fact that he represents the Godolphin-Andre Fabre axis.
In the Imprudence, Fabre saddles the unbeaten G3 Prix Six Perfections winner See the Rose (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) who races for Sean and Bernadine Mulryan, Linda Shanahan and Susan Magnier as she returns to the course and distance of that contest. Two of the darker types yet to be seriously tested are Mbaye Niang's impressive Mar. 20 Toulouse conditions scorer Louliana (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Ulrich Zerrath's Belcarra (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}), who captured the Listed Sea the Moon-Rennen over this trip at Hanover in October.
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