27 August 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Deauville, Sunday, August 25th, 2024 – The €80,000 Barrière Prix de Meautry (Gr3), a six-furlong sprint, saw the field split into two groups early on. On the stands' side, Go Bears Go (Kodi Bear) led the charge, followed by Spycatcher (Vadamos) and James's Delight (Invincible Army). Meanwhile, in the centre of the track, Vercors (Invincible Spirit) set the pace, tracked by Saint Lawrence (Al Kazeem), Territorywar (Territories), and the French favourite Beauvatier (Lope de Vega), who eventually settled between the latter two.
At the quarter-mile marker, Vercors drifted wide, and Saint Lawrence shifted towards the rail, leaving Beauvatier isolated in the centre. Meanwhile, Saint Lawrence briefly threatened in the centre before giving way to Spycatcher and James's Delight. The French contender weakened in the final stages, allowing the two British raiders to fight it out, with Spycatcher prevailing by a short neck. Beauvatier finished a good length further back in third, still isolated, while Coeur de Pierre (Zanzibari) was fourth, nearly three lengths adrift.
A 6-year-old gelding owned by a Highclere syndicate, Spycatcher had won the Prix de Ris-Orangis (Gr3) over this course and distance in July 2023. He subsequently finished second in the prestigious ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1) and has consistently performed at the highest level in sprint races in England. However, this victory marks his first success of the season.
Spycatcher was purchased for £90,000 at the Tattersalls sales as a 2-year-old and was later withdrawn from the sales as a 3-year-old, again at Newmarket. A yearling brother by Starman went through the Goffs sales ring three days after Spycatcher's victory. Their dam, Damask (Red Clubs), who remained a maiden while racing in the Highclere colours, is a sister to the Critérium International (Gr1) winner Zafisio (Efisio). Damask also has a 2-year-old filly by Inns of Court, purchased last year for £45,000 by Richard Knight and Sean Quinn.