The Maurice de Gheest (G1) is as domestic as a French group 1 will get. It is not uncommon for British and Irish trainers to have the majority of the field, so for all that seven out of this year’s ten looks to be a record, it is not miles out of the ordinary.
There are no Irish-trained runners this year and that might be partly because favorite Art Power always beats them at home. He has been to Ireland five times and is unbeaten, with a total winning margin of 19 1/2 lengths, which is remarkable for a sprinter.
Part of the reason Art Power can put that distance into his rivals in Ireland is because of soft ground. He has form on good and even a bit firmer, but he thrives under more testing conditions.
Deauville has had several inches of rain this week. Given the ground might even be heavy, going considerations are more important than whether Art Power will adjust to the sea air. This looks a good opportunity to break his run of 11 group 1 defeats, which includes six finishes in the frame.
Art Power is a prominent racer and will break from stall nine. The stalls are on the near side for the Maurice de Gheest, but note that numberings are the other way round from what you would get in Britain, so Art Power is virtually in the center of the track. Egot in stall one has the rail.
It is uncertain where the action will concentrate. Sometimes it is down the middle, sometimes on the rail. In recent runnings of this race, when the ground has been soft, the rail has tended to see more action. Still, if you had your pick with no other knowledge you would lean middle to low.
The Brits drawn in that neighborhood include Rohaan , Brad The Brief , and Spycatcher . The first two are big prices, although cases can be made for both.
Rohaan has been on a run of largely excusable poor efforts and he hits the line hard over six furlongs, so this extended longer trip ought to suit.
Brad The Brief is in some ways an inferior imitation of Art Power. He has enjoyed his biggest day in Ireland and has loads of form on soft ground. He has twice run well in France, on very soft ground at Chantilly.
Spycatcher is the main threat to Art Power according to the bookmakers and might be the one to extend the favorite’s agonizing run in group 1s.
After a promising but abortive 2022, he has improved in leaps and bounds this season. He won at Thirsk, placed under top weight in the Victoria Cup, shaped best in the Chipchase (G3) and then slammed a group 3 field over six furlongs here four weeks ago.
Last year, Garrus went from winning the same race to finish third in the Maurice de Gheest. Spycatcher was more convincing and has landed in a weaker running of this group 1. He has ample form beyond six furlongs and on soft ground, plus a covers-all-bases draw.
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