Earthlight takes Prix Morny to stay undefeated

Earthlight remained unbeaten in four starts, and earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, with a neck victory in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Morny for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on turf at Deauville, France.

Ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Andre Fabre, Earthlight (12-5) edged Raffle Prize, the 9-5 favorite who won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June.

Golden Horde, a 13-1 outside, finished third, followed by Arizona, the winner of the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and A’Ali, who won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A’Ali holds a berth to the BC Juvenile Turf for the win in the Norfolk.

It was not immediately clear whether Earthlight would be considered for the BC Juvenile Turf. Fabre told the press that the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at seven furlongs at Newmarket, England, on Oct. 12 was a possible target, if Earthlight races again this year.

The $607,786 Dewhurst Stakes is run at seven furlongs. Fabre indicated that Earthlight is a long-term prospect for the mile races for 3-year-olds next spring.

Earthlight, a colt by Shamardal owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, has won three times at Deauville, including the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at six furlongs on July 28 in his group stakes debut. The $388,500 Prix Morny, restricted to colts and fillies, was the first time Earthlight was not favored.

In the following race at Deauville, Coronet won her second consecutive Group 1 race in the $277,500 Prix Jean Romanet for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Coronet, the 8-5 favorite, raced on the inside throughout, stalking pacesetter Wild Illusion for the first mile. Coronet took the lead with more than a furlong remaining and won by three-quarters of a length over With You despite drifting to the left in the final furlong.

Red Tea, a 34-1 outsider trained by Joseph O’Brien, finished third in the field of eight. Wild Illusion, second to Sistercharlie in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs last November, faded to finish sixth.

Coronet won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud against males on June 30, her first win at the highest level. Trained by John Gosden, Coronet is owned by Denford Stud and has won 6 of 17 starts. Coronet, a 5-year-old mare by Dubawi, has won five stakes, including the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2017.

Gosden indicated that Coronet will be pointed for the Group 1 British Champions Filly and Mare Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Ascot on Oct. 19, which is likely to be her final race.