Spotlight shines on Earthlight in Maurice de Gheest
Undefeated Earthlight returns to the spotlight Sunday at Deauville in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Earthlight went 5 for 5 as a 2-year-old with Group 1 wins in the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes. His trainer, Andre Fabre, and owner, Godolphin, gave him an easy 3-year-old debut, Earthlight dominating a listed race last month at Deauville, and Earthlight will have to be on his game to win Sunday’s 6 1/2-furlong contest.
The 11-strong field includes Golden Horde, whom Earthlight narrowly defeated in the Middle Park. Golden Horde outlasted the American filly Kimari to win the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in his 3-year-old bow and came back with a solid third-place finish facing older horses in the July Cup last month at Newmarket. Both starts came at six furlongs and neither the longer distance Sunday nor a course that as of Friday was rated soft should trouble Golden Horde.
The Maurice de Gheest’s half-dozen 3-year-olds – Earthlight, Golden Horde, Lope y Fernandez, Wichita, Wooded, and Reshabar – get four pounds from their older male rivals, of which there are four, and one from the race’s lone mare, Spinning Memories. Aidan O’Brien trains Wichita and Lope y Fernandez, and top stable rider Ryan Moore lands on Lope y Fernandez. After a fine third behind Siskin in the Irish 2000 Guineas, Lope y Fernandez was only 10th in the Commonwealth before rebounding with a good second to Godolphin’s excellent 3-year-old Pinatubo in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, a one-mile race at Deauville. The Commonwealth was run over a good-to-soft course and it’s possible Lope y Fernandez wants the ground firmer. Wichita, the mount of Frankie Dettori, was a fine second in the English 2000 Guineas, but has so far failed to build on – or even run back to – that performance.
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Godolphin’s second entrant, 4-year-old Space Blues, who’s trained by Charlie Appleby, looks a worthy rival to Earthlight and Golden Horde. Third in this race a year ago, Space Blues has won all three of his starts this year while being eased back into top-level racing by Appleby following a poor showing over the winter in Dubai.
Four-year-old Hello Youmzain also should be taken seriously, especially on soft ground. Hello Youmzain hit a career peak winning the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee on closing day of Royal Ascot and after taking a mild step back finishing fifth in the July Cup, he could be set for another top showing Sunday. Hello Youmzain isn’t proven beyond six furlongs but has made only one start racing any farther.
Post time for the Prix Maurice de Gheest is 9:50 a.m. Eastern. Live video and wagering is available a DRFBets.com.
* Steel Bull and The Lir Jet are the favorites Sunday at The Curragh in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, a 2-year-old race over six furlongs. Steel Bull has won both his starts, while The Lir Jet, second at Chantilly last out, beat the Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal to win the Group 2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot.