Darley Cabourg Preview: The Darley Series 2nd stage

Two weeks after the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) and three weeks before the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1), the Darley Prix de Cabourg (Gr2), scheduled this Sunday in Deauville, is the second stage of the Darley series. The owner of the winner will be rewarded with a credit of € 10,000 on a Darley sire covering fee, which will be increased to € 20,000 if the colt or filly also wins the Darley Prix Morny on August 23rd - a double accomplished last year by Earthlight. So it's a 2-year-olds race over 6 furlongs, like the Darley Prix Robert Papin, but on a straight course that's less taxing than that of Chantilly.

Five of the last six winners were fillies, and they are three out of seven starters this year, but the colts will undoubtedly start as favourites with two British raiders including a Listed-placed and an unbeaten colt in two outings, and also Axdavali (Goken), in search of a redemption for being too keen in his last two races, and Prince Lancelot (Sir Prancealot), who won well for his debut.

• 1. PRINCE LANCELOT (C2, GB by Sir Prancealot and Rainbow Vale, by Moss Vale)

Trained at Chantilly, bought € 90,000 at the Deauville sales, he won for his debut against colts who had already run, over 6 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, showing the way from start to finish.

His dam Rainbow Vale (Moss Vale), out of a Group 3 winner in Ireland who then participated unsuccessfully in the French 1,000 Guineas, ended her career without a win but was second of a mile handicap on all-weather at Deauville with a 73lbs rating.

• 2. CAIRN GORM (C2, GB by Bated Breath and In Your Time, by Dalakhani)

Trained in England, bought back £ 35,000 at the Goffs Yearling Sales, he is unbeaten in two outings and has been very brave to keep the lead until the end, most recently over 6 furlongs at Newbury. It sounds tougher here though.

• 3. AXDAVALI (C2, FRA by Goken and Key Success, by Kodiac)

Trained in Deauville, he is the first foal out of a maiden mare who ran four claimers without changing hands. Beaten on his debut by an impressive Giulio Cesare, he showed himself even more imposing on his next outing, when he won at Deauville by seven lengths. Too keen early on in the Prix du Bois (Gr3), and in the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2), he is out to redeem himself now.

• 4. MIGHTY GURKHA (C2, IRE by Sepoy and Royal Debt, by Royal Applause)

Trained in England, bought back £ 14,000 at the Newmarket yearling sales, he won on the all-weather for his debut at Lingfield and then finished fifth in the Windsor Castle Stakes (L) at Royal Ascot. He tried to lead all the way in a Listed race afterwards but was beaten by a good colt.

• 5. WINVALCHOPE (F2, FRA by Kheleyf and Mademoiselle Flore, by Footstepsinthesand)

Trained in Chantilly, a winner from her second outing in a claiming race, after which she changed ownership, she finished 3rd in La Flèche (L), then finished sixth over 7 furlongs without a proper explanation, other maybe than the extended distance, as she's shortened here.

• 6. LAGOKEN (F2, FRA by Goken and Kianga, by Cadeaux Genereux)

Trained near Marseilles, sold after her third outing in a claimer, she has since won twice, in claimers again, and has just been the subject of a € 48,929 transaction but remains co-owned by her previous owner.

• 7. JUBILATION (F2, IRE by Acclamation and Fairy Dancer, by Fastnet Rock)

Trained in Normandy, bought £ 60,000 at the Newmarket yearling sales, she started with a second place on this course behind a filly who had already had a run. She also finished second after that at Saint-Cloud, beaten by a good length by Cœursamba, a runner on Saturday in the Prix Six Perfections (Gr3).