Galileo Gold, Ribchester meet again in Prix Jacques le Marois
Galileo Gold and Ribchester, second and third in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on July 27, can win their first stakes away from England in Sunday’s $781,000 Prix Jacques le Marois for turf milers at Deauville Racecourse in France.
The Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois may have implications for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile for nominated horses.
Galileo Gold won two Group 1, one-mile turf races for 3-year-olds earlier this year – the English 2000 Guineas in May and the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. In the Sussex Stakes, Galileo Gold set the pace and was beaten a neck by The Gurkha, who was sent off favored.
Galileo Gold was second in the Irish 2000 Guineas in May.
The Sussex Stakes was Galileo Gold’s first start against older horses. Owned by Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Hugo Palmer, Galileo Gold has won 5 of 9 starts.
Ribchester was third in the English 2000 Guineas but has yet to win a Group 1 race. Trained by Richard Fahey for Godolphin Racing, Ribchester won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Royal Ascot in June, his lone stakes win this year. In the Sussex Stakes, Ribchester closed well in the final furlong to finish a nose behind Galileo Gold.
Ribchester was second in the Group 3 Prix Djebel in France in April but was disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference in the final furlong.
The Prix Jacques le Marois drew a field of 11. Trainer Andre Fabre starts Vadamos, who was 11th behind California Chrome in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March. Vadamos, 5, has since won two group races in France, including the Group 3 Prix Messidor at a mile at Maisons-Laffitte on July 17 in his most recent race.