France: Blackbeard, Aristia triumph at Deauville

Blackbeard and Aristia scored front-running Group 1 victories on Sunday at Deauville Racecourse in France.

Blackbeard disputed the pace from the start and pushed on to a half-length victory in the Prix Morny, a straight-course six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds. Trainer Aidan O’Brien won his first Prix Morny since 2001 as Ryan Moore rode Blackbeard, a strapping son of No Nay Never and Muirin, by Born to Sea, to his fourth win from six starts.

In second was favored Persian Force, who had been beaten last out at The Curragh in Ireland by another O’Brien-trained 2-year-old, Little Big Bear.

The Morny is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering the winner automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint and travel expenses to Keeneland. No mention was made of the Breeders’ Cup, though O’Brien suggested Blackbeard could next start in the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket or the seven-furlong Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.

Richard Hannon Jr. trains Persian Force, but got a Group 1 on the day when Aristia made all the running in the 1 1/4-mile Prix Jean Romanet for older fillies and mares. With Sean Levey doling out Aristia’s speed, the improving 4-year-old held off a determined bid from German-bred Irish shipper Rosscarbery to win by a neck. Ebaiyra couldn’t quicken with the top two but landed third as lauded Australian 7-year-old mare Verry Elleegant finished last of seven while making her European debut and first start for French trainer Francis Graffard.

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Aristia was coming off a second-place finish to top-class 3-year-old filly Nashwa in the Group 1 Nassau stakes and won at the highest level for the first time. She’s by Starspangledbanner out of Aloisi, by Kalinisi.

*** Rags to riches mare Highfield Princess is an expected runner in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland after winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday at York. The Nunthorpe is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series, offering automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Turf Sprint and travel expenses to Keeneland.

Highfield Princess’ trainer, John Quinn, said after the mare’s victory that connections plan to make the trip, if all goes well. Highfield Princess, a 5-year-old by Night of Thunder, didn’t even win a Group race until capturing a Group 2 this past May while making her 26th start. The five-furlong, straight-course Nunthorpe was her second straight Group 1 tally, the mare having won the 6 1/2-furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest on Aug. 7.