By Tom Frary
With all the turmoil that has surrounded the Jean-Claude Rouget stable of late, few would begrudge a change of fortunes for the popular Pau-based trainer as he seeks a first renewal of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville. Sunday's prize is the sole Classic to elude him so far, but before Saturday his strike-rate in the big four–the Poulains, Pouliches, Jockey Club and Diane–was standing at an impressive 50 per cent in the last three years. His representative here is Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}), who carries the silks of his new part-owners Al Shaqab Racing who purchased a half-share in the bay this week. Gerard Augustin-Normand remains the other proprietaire, as he was in five of the six cases where the Rouget stable was successful in the domestic Classics since 2014. Brametot has an element of Al Shaqab's other exciting French-trained colt Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) about him as he effectively blew his chance in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau before making a mockery of the contest. Like that contemporary, he missed the break and raced detached until producing an impressive sustained surge to win the Apr. 16 Chantilly prep going away. “I didn't think he would impose himself in such a manner on his reappearance,” Rouget told Paris-Turf. “He was held up in rear as that tactic suits him well and, if all goes to plan, it looks good for Sunday.”
Criquette Head-Maarek has won this in 1994 with Green Tune and in 2004 with American Post (GB) and has an ideal opportunity to follow up with National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). So impressive when routing the opposition in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly on Arc day, Sun Bloodstock's bay did everything right bar hold off Al Wukair as he succumbed by a length to that formidable rival in the G3 Prix Djebel over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 10. His trainer stated afterwards that a straight course would suit better, but with Deauville providing the only alternative to Newmarket this year her hand was forced. “The other day when he came back, the trip was a little short for him,” she explained. “He ran a good race. He's improved from that race quite a lot physically and he's been working quite nicely. We've got Monsieur Soumillon to ride him as his regular jockey [Pierre-Charles Boudot] is riding for his trainer. I don't think that's a disadvantage. Everything is okay. My horse is well and we'll see.”
It provides another measure of how potent Aidan O'Brien's influence is in international racing that with four renewals he has already surpassed the record of the likes of domestic heavyweights Head-Maarek and Alain de Royer-Dupré and he is back with a serious contender in Orderofthegarter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His sire's momentum seems to grow year upon year and after witnessing what his son The Gurkha (Ire) did here 12 months ago, it is possible that it could be a case of deja vu in 2017. The manner of his return success in the Apr. 8 Listed Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial S. was impressive and Seamie Heffernan stays on with Ryan Moore engaged on the luckless Listed Tetrarch S. fourth Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}). Best of the Brits should be last year's G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), although he was only second in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket Apr. 20 which suggests he may not have made much progression from two to three and the pick of his juvenile form is beginning to gather holes as the Classic season progresses.
Leading jockey in this highlight with six successes beginning with Green Dancer in 1975, Freddy Head is seeking a first winner as a trainer and puts forward the Shadwell representative Mankib (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}). Confined to Maisons-Laffitte so far, the son of the 1000 Guineas heroine Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) has to step up off his latest narrow defeat of the Fabre trainee Veranda (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in a conditions event at this trip Apr. 18. “He's very much going the right way and is a progressive horse,” commented the operation's racing manager Angus Gold. “I don't know if he's good enough to win a Guineas, but he's going the right way and I like the look of him. He's unexposed in terms of not having run in a trial against the better horses, but we're happy with the way he's working at the moment.” Andre Fabre has six renewals on his resume and will strike the usual fear into his peers by saddling a couple of unbeaten colts in Godolphin's Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Prince Faisal bin Khaled's Le Brivido (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The latter beat the subsequent Listed Prix Matchem winner Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) on debut over 6 1/2 furlongs on Chantilly's Polytrack in November before doubling up at the expense of Thursday's G3 Prix Texanita scorer Aladdine (GB) (Naaqoos {GB}) in a conditions race over six furlongs on the turf there Apr. 4.
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