Librettist victorious in Deauville

Librettist couldn't have written a better script for himself in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois as he overcame a very soft turf course to notch his first Group 1 victory in the $768,000 Deauville mile.

Godolphin's Danzig 4-year-old reeled in the pacesetting Ramonti approaching the furlong marker, then held off the late challenges of Manduro and Peeress to record a neck victory with the favored Prix Jean Prat winner Stormy River fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Ad Valorem, recent winner of the Queen Anne Stakes, was fifth, another 2-1/2 lengths behind in fifth. Running on ground that was all wrong for him, the 2.90-1 Librettist got the straight mile in 1:43.10.

Librettist's only defeat in seven career starts came when he was fifth behind subsequent dual classic winner Shamardal in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes as a 2-year-old. He missed his entire 3-year-old season with injuries but has returned at four to give Godolphin a bright hope for both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Godolphin completed a big day in Europe when their Cherry Mix won the 1 1/2-mile Group 1 Rheinland-Pokal at Cologne by four handy lengths from Fracas. In victory, the Kerrin McEvoy ridden 5-year-old son of Linamix, second in the 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was proving that he is still more than a mere sacrificial rabbit, which was the role he played for stablemate Electrocutionist when finishing just 3-3/4 lengths sixth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes two weeks ago.

At the Curragh on Sunday, Holy Roman Emperor struck back at Hellvelyn to take the $384,000 Phoenix Stakes in becoming this year's first juvenile Group 1 winner in the Northern Hemisphere. Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the Danehill colt ran out a 1 3/4-length winner as the 13-8 co-favorite with runner-up Hellvellyn, clocking 1:11 flat for the six furlongs on good to firm ground. It was the ninth Phoenix victory for Aidan O'Brien, who won the race last year with George Washington whom, the trainer reports, is on schedule for either the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown next Sunday or Goodwood's Celebration Mile on August 27.

Holy Roman Emperor was exacting revenge on the British-trained Hellvelyn, who had beaten him 7-1/2 lengths into fifteenth place in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20. After that inexplicable performance, Holy Roman Emperor bounced back to win the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes and will now be wheeled right back for the 6-furlong Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville next Sunday.