A’Ali, Earthlight face off in Prix Morny

Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Morny for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on turf at Deauville, France, will be the first-ever meeting between the colts A’Ali and Earthlight who approach the race in outstanding form after major stakes wins on the same course in the last month.

Earthlight, unbeaten in three starts, has won twice at Deauville, including the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at six furlongs on July 28 in his group stakes debut. Trained by Andre Fabre for Godolphin Racing, Earthlight has been favored in all of his starts.

The $388,500 Prix Morny, restricted to colts and fillies, is part of the Breeders’ Win and You’re In program offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Juvenile Sprint at five furlongs on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

A’Ali earned a berth in the BC Juvenile Sprint with a win in the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Trained by Simon Crisford for Sheikh Duaij Al Khalifa, A’Ali won the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin on July 21 at Deauville.

The Prix Morny drew a field of eight, including two runners trained by Aidan O’Brien – Arizona and Royal Dornach. Arizona, who is rated the leading contender of the pair, won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at six furlongs in his stakes debut June 18 at Royal Ascot.

The Deauville program includes the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf. Coronet, trained in England by John Gosden, has already made a successful trip to France this year and will be favored in the $277,500 Prix Jean Romanet.

Coronet won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud against males June 30. Frankie Dettori has the mount.

With You, second in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares at a mile on July 28 at Deauville, and I Can Fly, third against males in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in England on July 31, have attractive form. With You won the 2018 Prix Rothschild.

The Prix Jean Romanet will be the third start of the year for Wild Illusion, who was second to Sistercharlie in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs last November. Wild Illusion is winless in two starts this year, including a fourth in a field of five in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on June 28 at The Curragh in Ireland.