Unbeaten in three leading mile races in England this year, Palace Pier will race in France for the first time since last summer in Sunday's Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Racecourse, a race with major international implications for the fall.
The nose that separated Sansom and Streets of Avalon in the Grade 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Australia on July 24 showed that the two geldings had responded well to multi-month layoffs. The rematch is set for Saturday’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, which is run at seven furlongs at Bletchingly. This time the advantage may be with Streets of Avalon, who has won 6 of 22 starts at seven furlongs in a career that includes 10 wins in 57 starts.
With a Group 3 win in April and a second in the Group 1 French Oaks on June 20, Philomene is well established among France’s 3-year-old filly division. Where she ranks among all 3-year-olds in the country will be better known after Saturday’s Group2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornaro at 1 1/4 miles at Deauville Racecourse.
Fine Weather appeared in a route race for the first time when he beat maidens at about 1 1/4 miles at Cranbourne Racecourse on July 22 in Australia. Making his fifth start, Fine Weather closed from eighth in a field of 14 to win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 7-5 favorite. The win has led to an entry in a handicap at an even longer 1 3/8 miles at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Friday.
A six-month break from November to May has changed the New Zealand-bred gelding McNair, who may start favored in a competitive one-mile handicap at Scone Racecourse in Australia on Thursday.
The competition is getting tougher for Mr Brightside, who has won his last two starts and will be favored to extend the winning streak in a one-mile handicap at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday.
Foxy Xenia is winless in four starts since October in Australia, but there are clues she could be nearing a win.
Heavy turf on the Parks course at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia did not suit Typhoon Harmony on July 17. Racing on an expected soft turf course could put the 5-year-old gelding in position to win for the third time in his eighth start in a seven-furlong handicap at Bendigo Racecourse on Sunday.
From Florida to England to France, 3-year-old filly Campanelle is undefeated in sprint races, and she's favored to win another Sunday at Deauville in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.
The Australian Group 1 sprinter Kolding starts for the first time since April in Saturday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia.
