Desmond Stoneham

AIDAN O’Brien’s plunder of French Group 1 races at Deauville can continue tomorrow afternoon as Caravaggio must have a leading chance in the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. Unlike Goodwood, the ground should be good but Ryan Moore will have to be astute as a number one draw is not always an advantage in a field of 13. Stablemate Intelligence Cross has stall number three.

Caravaggio beat Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and then had a below par run when fourth to his old rival in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Just a short-head in front of him that day came Brando and he will try to confirm the form in tomorrow’s six and a half-furlong race.

One of the main dangers to the Irish raider must be Signs Of Blessing. He captured the Maurice de Gheest 12 months ago and reappeared to beat Profitable here in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges back in May, but the positions were completely reversed in the King’s Stand Stakes.

That Group 1 sprint went to Lady Aurelia and her trainer, Wesley Ward, runs Bound For Nowhere. He was beaten over four lengths by Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup.

Charles Hills took this race with Muhaarar in 2015 and he runs the in-form Magical Memory. He is on a hat-trick and won the Group 3 bet365 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury, where Tupi finished last.

Aclaim ran sixth last Tuesday in Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and Martyn Meade has decided to let him take his chance again after a break of just five days.

The Right Man also has serious credentials. Didier Guillemin sent the five-year-old to Dubai where he landed the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan and the horse did not have the best runs when 11th and behind both Tupi and Aclaim in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Trained by Andre Fabre, Rosa Imperial is a very interesting four-year-old filly who only started racing in mid May. She is unbeaten in three races and, most recently, defeated the talented Son Cesio in the Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Maisons-Laffitte.

Trained by Pia Brandt, Fas (60% owned by the Ballylinch) is improving with age. He has not been out since April when he took the Group 3 Prix Sigy by three and a half lengths from Precieuse, who went on to land the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

Zalamea comes back in distance after three outings over a mile as does Black Max.

PRIX DE POMONE

The Group 2 Haras Firmamento Prix de Pomone has attracted Abingdon among six runners. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, this filly will appreciate the probable good ground forecast. Since hacking up in a listed event at Pontefract, the daughter of Street Cry was second in the Group 2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks.

The Juliet Rose is the class French filly but she has not been seen since landing the Qatar Prix de Royallieu early last October. A race earlier, she was third in the Qatar Prix Vermeille. Now trained by Francis Graffard, the five-year-old Bateel was sent across the Channel last time out to Haydock Park where she lifted the Group 3 Betway Pinnacle Stakes ahead of the Stoute-trained Dubka.

Alain de Royer-Dupre is stepping up Thrones Game considerably in class. The daughter of Dubawi captured the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont but then found the shorter Prix de Diane Longines a little on the sharp side. She could stretch her older rivals.

PRIX DE REUX

The Haras de la Pomme Prix de Reux is a traditional trial for the Lucien Barriere-Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of the month.

Andre Fabre saddles three colts in this Group 3 race. Doha Dream ended last season with a narrow victory in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay. He is trained by Fabre as are Parabellum and Tamelly.

The German contender Savoir Vivre is smart. He was a course and distance winner having taken last year’s Grand Prix de Deauville.

DEAUVILLE SUNDAY

LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest

Selection: CARAVAGGIO

Next best: Rosa Imperial

HARAS Firmamento Prix de Pomone

Selection: ABINGDON

Next best: Kitesurf

Haras de la Pomme

Prix de Reux

Selection: PARABELLUM

Next best: Berdibek