Prix Jacques le Marois win nets Romanised a BC Mile berth

Romanised won his first Group 1 in nearly 15 months in Sunday’s $1.12 million Prix Jacques le Marois at a mile at Deauville, France, a victory that may lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Ridden by Billy Lee for trainer Ken Condon, Romanised (7-2) closed from fifth in a field of eight to win the one-mile turf race on a straightaway by 1 1/4 lengths over the 3-year-old Shaman, who was second in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp Racecourse in May.

Line of Duty (7-1) finished third, beaten a nose by 7-2 Shaman, and was 1 1/4 lengths clear of 2-1 favorite Watch Me, who closed from the back of the field but failed to threaten the winner. Watch Me won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot in England in June.

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The Prix Jacques le Marois, France’s top race for milers, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Mile.

Romanised, 4, was fourth in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at a mile at Royal Ascot on June 18 at 25-1, but rebounded to win the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at seven furlongs at the Curragh in Ireland on July 20. In May 2018, Romanised won the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas at a mile.

Condon told the press that the BC Mile is a possibility along with the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Oct. 6. Owned by Robert Ng, Romanised, a colt by Holy Roman Emperor, has won 4 of 14 starts.