Laurent Barbarin

Published  09.53 30/08

We have a very good card of action for the closing day of the Deauville summer meeting, with a Group 2 and two Group 3's featuring on a valuable eight-race programme.

The Group 3 Prix Quincey (1.33) is the first of the Black type races and has attracted a field of just six runners over the straight mile.

With an excellent sixth in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild on 2 August, Gaga Girl brings the strongest form into the race. However, the filly has yet to prove herself on very soft ground and has had a demanding campaign since her trip to Ascot in June. A series of tough races and good performances can sometimes take their toll on a three-year-old filly at this stage of the season.

She may therefore be vulnerable, and the runner bringing freshness to the race is TUMBLER, who is also proven on very testing ground. Following a disappointing campaign in the Middle East last winter, the seven-year-old gelding finished fifth in the Group 3 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud on 1 May before being given a break. He returns today after four months off, but he finished a very close fourth from a similar layoff in last year’s Prix Quincey. Although the son of Kingman has yet to win at Group level, he could be an appealing alternative in this modest Group 3 if the favourite fails to reproduce her best form.

Seven runners line up in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2.50), with the only three-year-old, Mazzala, expected to be the odds-on favourite. Unbeaten in four starts and impressive when winning the Group 3 Prix de Reux earlier this month over the same course and distance, the son of Frankel has yet to race on testing ground.

This could make him vulnerable, and once again there may be value in a horse such as ARROW EAGLE, the only Group 1 winner in the field. Winner of last year’s Prix Royal-Oak on very soft ground at Saint-Cloud, the little brother of Arc winner Ace Impact has had just two starts this season. He was far from disgraced when fourth of five behind Darzany in the Prix Ganay on 26 April, but ran below expectations when only seventh of nine in the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse du Vigier a month later over 15½ furlongs.

The son of Gleneagles returns on Sunday after a break of nearly three months and will be Jean-Claude Rouget’s final runner at Deauville, a place where the great trainer has enjoyed some memorable successes. He also had a highly successful satellite yard here, that produced Arc winner Ace Impact.

It would be a fairytale ending for the great man, and let’s hope things go his way in what could be a very emotional farewell to Deauville.

According to his connections, Arrow Eagle has prepared well at Pau for his return to competition this Sunday, and he looks the value angle in this year’s Grand Prix de Deauville.

My final selection comes in Race 6 (4.00), a handicap for three-year-olds over the straight mile. Trained by Christophe Ferland, VICTORIA COLONIA brings an interesting profile to the race, with just five starts to her name. She recorded her only victory in a handicap at Lyon-Parilly last June, beating two horses who have since gone on to win. She was narrowly headed in a conditions race at Vittel on her latest outing on 19 July and, like many of her rivals today, will be tackling the straight for the first time.

This could unlock further improvement for the daughter of Galiway, who will also encounter testing ground for the first time. Her latest effort at Vittel offers solid enough form to suggest she can be competitive despite carrying a new handicap mark. She reunites with Mickael Barzalona, who rode her to victory at Lyon, and has also secured a favourable draw in stall 4.

A half-sister to several winners, including two at Listed level, the filly should have further progress in her and is expected to start at an attractive price of around 5-1. She looks an interesting candidate in what remains an open affair.

My next column will be on Tuesday 1 September for Group action from Deauville, a meeting shown live on Sky Sports Racing.