10 July 2021
Photo scoopdyga.com
Contested for the third year over Deauville's 7-furlong straight, the Haras D'Étreham Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) is becoming a must-see event of the summer for flyers from all over Europe. Thirteen runners are declared on Sunday in this race created in 1858 but revisited many times before finding this new format.
It allows speed horses who have not stayed the mile of the Guineas or the Poules d'Essai, to the lucky-ish or not so lucky runners of the Jersey Stakes (Gr3) at Royal Ascot, and to newcomers at the top level, to find a new lease of life under optimal conditions.
The last two winners, Too Darn Hot and Pinatubo, had a lot in common: both had finished the 2-year-old season at the top of the European classifications before stumbling at 3 years old at the start of the season and then rebuilding a reputation at Deauville. Now thirteen 3-year-olds from different horizons are looking for a new path of which the Haras d'Étreham Prix Jean Prat would be the decisive crossroads.
The Jersey Stakes-2nd, Naval Crown (Dubawi), will certainly be one of the favourites. He will be Charlie Appleby's first runner in France this season, along with two other representatives of the Godolphin stable trained, however, by the Chantilly-based maestro André Fabre. First, there is Erasmo (Oasis Dream), who won twice in a row recently, last time out in the Prix Paul de Moussac Longines (Gr1) over the mile, beating Best Lightning (Sidestep), whom he will meet again here. The other one is Midtown (Dubawi), unbeaten in two races and winner of the Prix Herod (L) over this distance but at Chantilly and last year: Fabre has elected to release him again in such a hot race for a good reason. Both are rated 107 and Mickaël Barzalona, who usually rides the best French representatives of Godolphin, is riding Midtown.
Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, who has had a stunning success this season on the French circuit, is represented by two trainees: Wembley (Galileo), who has failed three times this year after being the runner-up of the 2020 Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1) behind his stablemate St. Mark's Basilica -now a dual Classic winner in France and the Eclipse Stakes victor, and Battleground (War Front), who has just run better after an initial failure in the Two Thousand Guineas (Gr1) at Newmarket. Joseph O’Brien, son of Aidan and yet already equally formidable, lines up Thunder Moon (Zoffany), also disappointing this year in his two attempts. Rounding out the Anglo-Irish cast include Mehmento (Mehmas), who was amiss in the Jersey Stakes, and Law of Indices (Power), who hasn't won for a year but is almost always "in the money" at the top level, from 6 to 7 furlongs.
On the French side, we will rely on Colosseo (Street Boss), very good second to St. Mark's Basilica in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1), and Fast Raaj (Iffraaj), well and early beaten in the Jersey Stakes (Gr3) after having caused a sensation on this course and distance in the Prix Djebel (Gr3). Winner of the Prix Imprudence (Gr3) on the same venue on the same day, Reina Madre (Kingman) was also subsequently beaten in the Poule des Pouliches, but with extenuating circumstances.
The winner last time out in the Prix Volterra (L) over the mile, Valloria (Dubawi) is shortened here for her first attempt over less than 7 1/2 furlongs.
The only downside in this exciting battle plan, the rain: it made the track very soft on the eve of the race. Never mind though: the Deauville turf is new, the sun has reappeared, and this Touques straight line will undoubtedly be a turning point in the careers of many of these contenders.