Philomene takes on males in Group 2 at Deauville

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.

The $469,240 Prix Guillaume d’Ornaro drew a field of eight and is the top race for 3-year-olds at the popular seaside summer meeting at Deauville.

The Prix Guillaume d’Ornaro will be Philomene’s first start against males and her fifth race. Philomene was sixth in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas at a mile at Longchamp on May 16 and was beaten three-quarters of a length by Joan of Arc in the French Oaks at 1 5/16 miles, a race formally known as the Prix de Diane.

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A winner of 2 of 4 starts for Godolphin Racing and trainer Andre Fabre, Philomene was the 3-1 favorite in a field of 17 in the French Oaks.

Joan of Arc was later third against older fillies and mares in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Goodwood Racecourse in England on July 29.

The Prix Guillaume d’Ornaro is a homecoming of sorts for Millebosc, who was third in the Group 1 French Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Chantilly on June 6, finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind St. John’s Basilica. Millebosc won his debut in a maiden race for colts and geldings at a mile at Deauville last October, his only start at 2.

Trained by Stephanie Nigge, Millebosc has been second or third in three starts this year. Bred in France, Millesbosc was 25-1 in the French Derby, but will be among the best-backed runners on Saturday.

The race drew other capable starters such as Pretty Tiger and Caprice Des Dieux, the first two finishers of the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Saint-Cloud Racecourse on July 4. Pretty Tiger was sixth in the French Derby. Caprice Des Dieux was a minor stakes winner at Compiegne on July 27.

Half of the runners are from English stables, notably Tasman Bay, who was second in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot in June for trainer Mark Todd. More recently, Tasman Bay was third in the Thoroughbred Stakes at a mile at Goodwood on July 30.

The Prix Guillaume d’Ornaro has a post time of 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.