Fun Fun Fun

Off to Deauville on Sunday on the second leg of his European tour, Sutong Pan's Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) arguably boasts the strongest piece of form as he bids for a slice of history in an open-looking renewal of the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. Having been a neck second to Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot last time June 18, the 7-year-old is looking to provide Hong Kong with a first success in France. His effort at the Royal meeting came on the softest ground he had encountered throughout his entire career, so the G1 Hong Kong Sprint and dual G1 Hong Kong Mile runner-up's versatility should stand him in good stead as he seeks a long-overdue Group 1 win. “I was thrilled with him in the Jubilee, it was a very creditable effort, but a bit frustrating that it's the fourth time he's finished second in a group one,” trainer Richard Gibson commented. “After Ascot, everything was targeted at the Maurice de Gheest. He was let down and then went into training with Robert Cowell in Newmarket. He's been mixing it with a yard that's chock-full of high-class sprinters, so I think he's been in the right place. Let's hope all goes to plan and that we are in the thick of it at the finish. I think the track should suit him and Christophe [Soumillon] knows him. He will enjoy it trying to put one on the board for Hong Kong on his own patch.”
Fifth and beaten less than a length in the Diamond Jubilee, the progressive Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) has since finished runner-up to Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in the G1 July Cup over that six-furlong trip at Newmarket July 9 and meets nothing of that calibre in this line-up. Trainer David O'Meara is hoping he can earn the reward for his consistency in the top sprints on ground that could suit. “He's in great form. It was a massive run to place in the July Cup behind a horse who could be exceptional,” he explained. “He's had four runs for us now and has finished second in the [Listed] Cammidge [Trophy], second in the [G2] Duke of York and then beaten only three-quarters of a length into fifth at Royal Ascot. He hasn't done anything wrong. He can compete in these races and could well win one.”
Confidence in Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) would have been high had the rain not arrived to more than likely rule him out of the equation. Godolphin's chestnut specialises over seven furlongs, having won last year's G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot and the G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood last time July 26, but needs a much faster surface than is guaranteed this time and connections are keeping an eye on the weather. Trainer Charlie Hills said, “We will have someone walk the course for us and then take a view If he doesn't run at Deauville, there is always the G2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury the following week.”
Of the 3-year-olds, Dr Ali Ridha's once invulnerable-looking front-runner Gifted Master (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has had his confidence knocked with three straight defeats since his win in the G3 Pavilion S. over six furlongs at Ascot Apr. 27 and is hard to see winning off his latest third behind Dutch Connection in the Lennox. There may be more hope for his peer Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead) who performed so well on similar ground when capturing the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte in October but he has questions to answer after his latest ninth of 10 in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs June 17.