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[Wandering Eyes]

The Niarchos Family are riding high again and their G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is a welcome visitor to Deauville for Wednesday’s G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. Having enjoyed a break since his defeat of Patascoy (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the June 3 Chantilly Classic, the homebred treads the same path as the 2016 winner Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who went on to glory in the Irish and English Champion S. The operation’s racing manager Alan Cooper has nothing but positives to share.

“It’s a comeback race and hopefully he will acquit himself very well,” he said. “The Irish Champion S. is the plan after this. This is the program [trainer] Pascal [Bary] has mapped out for a long time. He handles most ground, so I don’t think the ground will be an issue. There was rain on Sunday after racing, but it has been dry since. It is a very strong race, it is very valuable and I understand France Galop are hoping in time that maybe it can even be more important. Not having a penalty for his Group 1 win makes it a unique race.”

Third in the Jockey Club, Louis D’Or (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) has since finished in the same spot behind the re-opposing Gyllen (Medaglia d’Oro) and Crossed Baton (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over 10 1/2 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte a month ago. Gyllen’s trainer Andre Fabre said, “He’s a lovely, honest colt, who tries his hardest. He ran a very game race last time and he’ll need to have shown some improvement if he is to win again here.”

Fabre also has a very strong hand in the supporting G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron and G3 Prix de Lieurey, with the reigning GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro) making his European comeback in the former contest having been off since finishing ninth in the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai World Cup. “He has his first start after a short holiday following the trip to Dubai. He’s well and happy in himself but he can be a bit lazy at home, so we’ll know a bit more after the race,” commented Fabre, who also saddles Wren’s Day (Medaglia d’Oro) who surprised many when second to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp last time Apr. 29. “He had a hard race in the Ganay and he really needed time to recover,” Fabre explained. “But he appears to be in good form and hopefully he’ll run well here.

In the Lieurey, Godolphin and Fabre combine with the May 27 G1 Prix Saint-Alary fourth and July 9 G3 Prix Chloe third Flowrider (Street Cry {Ire}). “Flowrider is in good form. She is still lightly-raced but has shown some excellent form so far and is progressing all the time,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “At Deauville, she will be dropping back to a mile for the first time since she won her maiden and hopefully she should appreciate this.” Fabre looks to have stronger claims with Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor’s May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches third Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Juddmonte’s up-and-comer Environs (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who booked this rise in class after winning Maisons-Laffitte’s Listed Prix de Bagatelle July 22.

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