Irish Wells a repeat winner in Grand Prix de Deauville

Irish Wells successfully defended his Grand Prix de Deauville title on Sunday, holding off the favored Poet Laureate to land the Group 2, $272,000 prize by a length.

Irish Wells, a 4-year-old son of Poliglote, was winning for the first time in six starts since his win in last year's race. Ridden again by Dominique Boeuf for trainer Francois Rohaut, the 5-1 Irish Wells covered the 1 9/16 miles on soft ground in 2:45.50. Champs Elysees was third, two lengths behind the runner-up.

Irish Wells has hardly been a slouch during his winless interval, as he has been third in the Group 2 Prix d'Hocquart and second in the Group 1 Prix Ganay behind no less than Dylan Thomas.

Irish Wells is the first horse to win the Grand Prix de Deauville twice since Snurge took the 1991 and 1993 editions. Rohaut, however, will not run Irish Wells into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, feeling that the Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club on Oct. 14 in Milan is more within his range.