CHEREK (34) started favourite for a hot debutant’s race over seven and a half at Deauville where he looked an unlucky loser. He was hemmed in on the rail until after the furlong marker and surged forward when finally in the clear. However the winner had been allowed his own way up front and was able to charge through the final furlong in just 11.94 seconds, so Cherek did really well to cut his advantage to half a length at the line.

Cherek, owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, is a good moving sort who looks built and bred for middle distances.