Brando brings mixed form to Prix Maurice de Gheest

Brando was a 9-1 outsider when he beat 12 rivals for his first Group 1 win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, France, last August.
Since then, Brando has had mixed form leading to a reappearance in Sunday’s $440,116 Prix Maurice de Gheest at 6 1/2 furlongs, France’s top summertime sprint.

Brando, who is trained by Kevin Ryan, has one victory in seven starts - the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, England, in May.

Brando was second to the highly regarded U S Navy Flag in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket on July 14 on good to firm turf. The turf course is expected to be good to soft at Deauville on Sunday, and those conditions may help Brando’s chances against 19 rivals in the race on a straightaway course.

Brando, a 6-year-old gelding by Pivotal, will be ridden by regular rider Tom Eaves.

The Prix Maurice de Gheest drew a competitive field. City Light, Inns of Court and Librisa Breeze rate as contenders because of the condition of the turf course and their recent races, or both.

City Light was beaten a short head in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 23 by Merchant Navy, who has since been retired to stud.

Inns of Court, trained by Andre Fabre, has run well at Deauville in the past, notably a second in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois for turf milers in 2017. The 4-year-old Inns of Court was a Group 3 winner at six furlongs on turf at Maisons-Laffitte, near Paris, on July 15.

Librisa Breeze was ninth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on good to firm turf, but won the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes on soft turf at Ascot last October.