JERSEY Stakes victor Thesecretadversary returns to Group 1 company in Sunday’s Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Fozzy Stack’s three-time stakes winner is set to face seven rivals in the seven-furlong feature, including Francis-Henri Graffard’s French 2000 Guineas winner Rayif and Ballydoyle’s Newmarket heroine True Love.

“We’ve been happy with him since Ascot,” Stack told The Irish Field on Friday. “Obviously, it’s quite a good race; you have two Guineas winners in it, but hopefully he’ll turn up and run his race.”

With Stack’s Ascot partner in crime Seamie Heffernan ruled out due to suspension, Christophe Soumillion will ride Cayton Park Stud and John Magnier’s homebred for the first time at the weekend.

Understandably, it was an easy decision, Stack confirms: “I spoke to the owners and, you know, he’s the logical man to get in France if you can get him.”

While Thesecretadversary may have yet to conquer Group 1 level like Rayif and True Love, the son of St Mark’s Basilica has been at his best over Sunday’s trip of seven furlongs, with a fine fifth and sixth in the British and Irish Guineas in the interim.

His future entries range from six to 10 furlongs, but Stack is focussed firmly on Sunday before any future plans are firmed up.

“It’s his last chance against his own [age group],” the trainer said. “We’ll see how we get on on Sunday and make another plan then after that.”

Ballydoyle bullets

The trip shouldn’t be a worry for the 1000 Guineas winner True Love, either, as Aidan O’Brien’s Guineas heroine previously won the Queen Mary Stakes, Railway Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes.

Furthermore, her classic trial win came over seven furlongs at Leopardstown, when she carried a penalty on her first start since October. Overturned by stablemate Precise in the Irish 1000 Guineas after her Newmarket victory, she took third last time out in the Coronation Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien had only positive things to say ahead of the No Nay Never filly’s trip to France, telling The Irish Field: “True Love is in good form; she seems to have come out of her race well. We think that the drop back to seven furlongs will suit her.”

It could be a big weekend for Coolmore sire No Nay Never, as True Love’s stablemate Mission Central bids to make it four from four this season in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes, a race won by their sire’s Alcohol Free and Ten Sovereigns in recent years.

The King Charles III Stakes victor is one of four in the line-up who won at Royal Ascot last time, alongside Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes victor Almeraq, Commonwealth Cup heroine Venetian Sun and Wokingham Stakes winner Double Rush.

Question marks

Venetian Sun has weakened in the betting after Karl Burke shared concerns over the drying ground and possibility of his dual Group 1 winner going in season. The market is keen on the chances of Japanese raider Satono Reve, following his near miss behind Almeraq at Ascot.

Those market rivals all ran over six furlongs at Ascot, whereas Mission Central ran over the minimum trip, though he did finish strongly after the blistering pace faded. While he has been exclusively campaigned over five furlongs this term, the gelding’s three juvenile wins came over today’s trip.

If he was successful, he would provide O’Brien with a record sixth win in the race, as he currently matches the five wins of Charles Morton and Vincent O’Brien.

On his latest contender, O’Brien said: “Obviously, it’s a furlong further but we’re very happy with him since the last day. He should run a nice race.”

The only other Irish horse in the field of 11 is Comanche Brave, who bids to continue Donnacha O’Brien’s fine run, after Kensington Lane won the Belmont Oaks and A Boy Named Susie finished second in the Coral-Eclipse last weekend.

Billy Loughnane takes the ride on the Wootton Bassett colt, who finished fifth in last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas but has run over six furlongs on his last three starts.

He finished a length and a quarter behind Satono Reve in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in April and followed up with a two-length win in the Greenlands Stakes, before finishing two and three quarter lengths behind Almeraq at Ascot.