Familiar Territory

Just as Almanzor did 12 months ago, Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) returns from a mid-summer break in Tuesday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville. At this stage, Al Shaqab Racing and Gerard Augustin-Normand's bay has one up on his illustrious stablemate as he is the winner of the May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains as well as the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, where the re-opposing G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) was back in third. “He is a very good horse and Jean-Claude is very happy with him,” Augustin-Normand's racing manager Sylvain Vidal said. “We'll make plans after tomorrow, but I know Jean-Claude is thinking of sending him straight for the Arc. We'll have to see how he runs and Al Shaqab own 55 per cent of the horse, so they will also be a big part of making the decision.”

Andre Fabre saddles four, including Godolphin's Apr. 16 G3 Prix Noailles scorer Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) who was disappointing when 11th in the Jockey Club when last seen June 4 and the unexposed and improving Last Kingdom (Frankel {GB}). Prince Faisal's bay has yet to prove his stamina for this 10-furlong trip, but the way the Frankels are going at present suggests he is imparting plenty of staying power. Coming off a career-best success in Maisons-Laffitte's G3 Prix Daphnis over nine furlongs Jun 28, he is a fascinating rival to Brametot alongside the Apr. 20 G3 Craven S. scorer Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who has been there or thereabouts in the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Derby and who has had a short rest since his latest fifth in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 8. “He's had a bit of a break since the Eclipse and we're pleased with him,” trainer Martyn Meade said. “The thinking behind bringing him for this race is that it will just take a bit of pressure off him a little bit. We were thinking of going for the Juddmonte International, but that would be putting the pressure back on him again and hopefully running in a group two with a small field, he'll have a slightly easier time. Hopefully we get some good ground and it will act as a confidence booster for him.”