LARC PRIX MAURICE DE

GHEEST (GROUP 1)

AN expression often used in France is “messieurs les Anglais, tirez les premiers” (English gentlemen fire first) and they certainly did at Deauville last Sunday as the first four in the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest all crossed the Channel for the Group 1 contest.

Sadly, Aidan O’Brien’s Caravaggio did not fire on this occasion. The Irish contender was the 8/5 favourite but, from the very start, he never looked like taking a place in the frame.

The imposing winner was Brando and he was given a faultless ride by Tom Eaves. His trainer, Kevin Ryan, was born in Co Tipperary and was also an accomplished rider. Racing’s wheel of fortune turned in his favour at Deauville after the dramatic shutdown of his Thirsk-based stable for three weeks in June following a case of equine herpes.

This led to Brando missing Royal Ascot but the five-year-old has bounced back to his best after a decent run in the Darley July Cup when third and just a short-head in front of Caravaggio.

In the Maurice de Gheest, this had been extended to four and a half lengths so Brando had obviously come on for the outing while Caravaggio must have run well below his best.

It has also been a great few days (five) for geldings in Group 1 events following the victory of Here Comes When in the £560,200 Qipco Sussex Stakes and in the Maurice de Gheest where the winner, third, fourth and fifth had all been gelded. Racing fans fall in love with geldings, like jumpers, who normally perform in public for many seasons and Cirrus Des Aigles is an excellent example in France. He is still cheered when making guest appearances at the track.

BLAZED

While Caravaggio was a bit flat-footed after the Maurice de Gheest start, last year’s winner Signs Of Blessing blazed down the track at the speed of a quarter horse, with the American runner Bound For Nowhere and also Intelligence Cross trying to keep up. Early on, the horses in at the finish were either mid-division or being held up.

Things changed rapidly inside the final furlong where Brando’s beautifully timed challenge took him to the head of affairs as Aclaim and Olivier Peslier advanced on the stands’ side and Tupi on the outer. The winning distance was half a length and the final time average after the very fast start.

The stewards fined Sean Levey (Tupi) €150 and Olivier Peslier (Aclaim) was suspended for two days after the Maurice de Gheest for abusive use of the whip.

After this thoroughly deserved win, Ryan said: “This success was not out of turn as he had to be top class to win the Ayr Gold Cup with top weight. Brando broke a blood vessel at York in May and ran a great race at Newmarket not having had a proper prep. He was much lighter today and we’ve had our eyes on the Maurice de Gheest for some time. This is a special moment as the owners are great friends. Our luck’s been down and this victory is a great credit to all my team.

“Brando proved today he acts on all grounds. The programme now is the Haydock Sprint, back to France for the Prix de la Foret and then Champions Day at Ascot.”

Ryan was picking up his third Group 1 race in France having saddled The Great Gatsby to win the 2014 Prix du Jockey Club eight years after lifting the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp with Desert Lord. The Group 1 sprint had also been picked up by Eaves on Tangerine Trees in 2011.

“This was the best performance of his career,” reported trainer’s son Freddie Meade of Aclaim after his sixth in the Lennox Stakes just five days earlier. “The Prix de la Foret must now be a target.”

A rank outsider, Tupi ran his heart out and Richard Hannon will be looking for good ground or faster in the future.

Of Caravaggio, a somewhat perplexed Aidan O’Brien said: “Ryan said he was a bit tight in himself. Maybe, we ran him a bit quick after his last race. His Ascot win could have been a little harder than we thought.”

On return to Ballydoyle, the trainer reported that Caravaggio was “very sore” and that there was a possible issue with the colt’s shoes.