Marbye takes Prix d'Astarte

Deauville had a Japanese flavor about it on Sunday as Marbye, owned by Teruya Yoshida, landed the Group 1 Prix d'Astarte while the Layman, a 2-year-old son of Japan's deceased premier sire, Sunday Silence, cruised to a five-length score in the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg.

Trained in Italy by Bruno Grizzetti, Marbye rallied to defeat British invader Majestic Desert by a half-length in the $240,000 Astarte. Marbye, an Irish-bred 4-year-old daughter of Marju, was sent off at 11.80-1. She covered the straight mile on good ground in 1:36.70.

Nebraska Tornado was 1 1/4 lengths back in third as the 11-10 choice.

Marbye will return to Deauville on Aug. 15 to tackle colts again as well as Six Perfections in the one-mile Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois.

A Kentucky-bred colt, Layman led throughout under Gary Stevens at 3.40-1 to take the six-furlong Cabourg from Inhabitant, getting the six furlongs in a swift 1:10.90.