Dutch Art triumphs in Prix Morny

Dutch Art maintained his unbeaten record at Deauville on Sunday, overcoming a very soft turf course to win the Group 1, $448,000 Prix Morny.

The winner of the five-furlong Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on good to firm ground at Royal Ascot on June 22, Dutch Art proved he could adapt to any sort of going in the six-furlong Morny, scoring a one-length victory over the filly Magic America. Excellent Art was third, and the pacesetting favorite, Sandwaki, was fourth. The antepost favorite, Holy Roman Emperor, was scratched by Aidan O'Brien because of the soft conditions and will now head for the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh on Sept. 17.

Now 3 for 3, Dutch Art was guided through the straight six furlongs by Christophe Soumillon in 1:13.60. Winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam now heads into this fall's lucrative juvenile events doublehanded; he also has recent Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner Hamoody in his Newmarket stable.

In a pair of intriguing 1 1/4-mile preps for the Oct. 1 Prix de l'Opera, Germance, the 2-5 favorite, cruised to victory in the Group 3 Prix de la Nonette, and Satwa Queen overcame a six-month absence to take the Group 2 Prix Jean Romanet.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Germance suffered her first defeat when second to Confidential Lady in the French Oaks on June 11. The winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary, Germance defeated Mysterious Lina by three lengths in the Nonette, clocking 2:11.20 for 1 1/4 miles. Rouget said that Germance's main objective this fall will be the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and that she will use either the Opera or Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup as a prep.

Satwa Queen got her 1 1/4 miles in 2:11.90 to win the Jean Romanet for older fillies and mares by 1 1/2 lengths over Sweet Stream. A two-time Group 3 winner last year, Satwa Queen will be aimed at Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Stakes.