Deauville Monday

2.50 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) (3yo colts) 1m (Straight)

Covid has changed so many things out of all recognition, so it should come as no surprise that here is the first major European classic of the year, run on a non-holiday Monday, over an unusual course, with the smallest field since 2004 and for only 60% of last year’s prize money.

Understandably, no overseas competition has been allowed for either the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains or the fillies’ equivalent, which is a serious blow given that on average over the last decade foreign competitors have accounted for more than one third of the field.

Champion trainer Andre Fabre holds a strong hand with three runners – the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere one-two from last October, Victor Ludorum and Alson, plus the Coolmore Stud-owned Arapaho.

Having his first start for Fabre, Alson may be found out by his lack of a prep race, while Victor Ludorum presents a tricky conundrum. He holds Alson, Ecrivain and Kenway on the Lagardere form, but pulled too hard and was unsuited by testing ground when taking third behind The Summit and Ecrivain in a steadily run Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau at ParisLongchamp three weeks ago.

He is sure to come on for that run, but no more so than the very patiently-ridden Ecrivain, and Fabre believes that he may be ideally suited by further than a mile.

A strong pace is not guaranteed, so The Summit may again employ the waiting-in-front tactics that helped him grab that length-and-three-quarter Fontainebleau success. But this time he will not have the benefit of surprise or the assistance of a bend that makes that run style most effective.

In the circumstances, it may therefore be prudent to side with Ecrivain, a son of Lope De Vega from the family of the four-time Group 1 winner, Peeping Fawn. Carlos Laffon-Parias has always handled him like a top-class colt and he may possess a better turn of foot than Victor Ludorum.

Another progeny of Lope De Vega, Arapaho was bred by Fabre and was only sold to Coolmore after posting a brilliant winning debut last June. He did well to overcome a nine-month absence to land a seven-furlong listed contest on May 14th, though the form of that race does not look strong and he will be making his pattern debut.

Outside the top four in the betting, both the supplementary entry, Shinning Ocean, and Reshabar are interesting potential front-runners after producing pillar-to-post recent comeback victories, beating highly-regarded rivals in the process.

Trained by the former Bayern Munich footballer, Markus Munch, Reshabar was a 59/1 chance when finishing three-lengths clear of the reopposing Celestin last time and may be worth a throwaway few euros if similarly ignored by punters here.

SELECTION: ECRIVAIN

Next Best: Victor Ludorum

3.20 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) (3yo Filliies) 1m (straight)

Tropbeau is set to prove too strong for her opposition and take her perfect Deauville record to three-from-three in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

Considerably more experienced than most of her rivals with six career starts under her belt, she proved herself a very classy juvenile with two pattern race successes and an unlucky third in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

Despite trainer Andre Fabre insisting that she would be in need of the run, she then made a winning return in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp three weeks ago when three of Monday’s rivals were in her wake. This return to a sound surface should suit her perfectly and her stamina can no longer be questioned after the Grotte.

A performance out of the top drawer will be required to beat her, and if any member of the field is capable of that it is most likely to be the unbeaten, twice-raced Lope De Vega filly, Simeen.

Member of an extremely strong Aga Khan family with plenty of stamina in her pedigree, Simeen did very well to come from last off a slow pace and win with plenty in hand at Chantilly on May 13th.

The Spanish-owned and bred Marieta, not seen since chasing home Albigna at a respectful distance in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac in October, looks the pick of the remainder.

SELECTION: TROPBEAU

Next Best: Simeen

Also moved to Deauville owing to the banning of racing in the Paris area for politically motivated Covid reasons, Sunday’s two highlights are a pair of €90,000 Group 2 contests for older horses: the Grand Prix de Chantilly over an extended mile and a half and the Prix du Gros-Chene over five furlongs.

Despite never even having been placed in a pattern race in his home country, the unsuitably-named French King has pocketed around €1.2 million in career prize money, largely thanks to two triumphs in the lucrative Amir Trophy in Qatar.

This Alex Pantall-trained five-year-old should finally start living up to his moniker in the Grand Prix de Chantilly, possibly chased home by his fellow seasoned Arabian Gulf-traveller, Royal Julius.

The Gros-Chene looks a moderate contest given the lack of foreign runners but may go to last year’s runner-up, Sestilio Jet, respresenting in-form trainer Andrea Marcialis. He returned from winter hibernation with an excellent third place at ParisLongchamp three weeks ago and can overturn that form with Batwan and Gold Vibe.