Rayif

French 2000 Guineas hero Rayif (Sea The Moon) will not take part in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes as he is not 100%, according to Aga Khan Studs' racing manager Nemone Routh. A winner of the G3 Prix Francois Boutin and third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at two, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee was a smart winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in May. He will not take on the English and Irish 2000 Guineas winners Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) and Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), respectively, on...

Following a remarkable Chester May meeting, Ballydoyle will look to continue their momentum into the weekend, with two Classics at stake on Sunday. Heading the baker's dozen going forward for ParisLongchamp's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains is the yard's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Criterium International hero Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), while their Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) is heavily favoured for the 15-strong G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), who will be accompanied by the G3 Killavullan Stakes and Goffs Million winner Dorset...

Is there an adequate Japanese proverb that conveys the nation's unflinching endeavour to win the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Perhaps "Ishi no ue ni mo san nen", to sit patiently on a cold stone for three years which relates to the power of perseverance, or "Nana korobi ya oki", to fall seven times and get up eight, or "Mateba kairo no hiyori ari". The latter points to waiting out the unpredictable to choose the right route and ultimately prevail. Since the country's first real go in 1999...

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 15:50, THE AGA KHAN STUDS PRIX JACQUES LE MAROIS-G1, €1,000,000, 3yo/up, c/f, 8fT Field: Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Go To First (Jpn) (Rulership (Jpn), King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Japanese duo Go To First and Ascoli Piceno add Far East flavour to a stellar renewal...