Prix Guillaume D´Ornano 2011

2.20 Deauville

Prix Guillaume D´Ornano (Group 2) (3yo) (Turf) (3yo) Winner £196,552

Pick: Golden Lilac (win)

Glaswegian: Got up in bunch finish when winning Group 3 Guineas trial and refound form (unable to place both times in real classics) when second last time in Group 2 over C&D (Colombian unlucky in third); This demands more.

Red Dubawi: Sent off favourite to beat unbeaten Mutual Trust on debut and has since gone onto win  this Listed Prix Pelleas with something in hand; Foolish to think that he couldn’t take a hand but this a much stiffer contest.

Dunboyne Express: Showed start potential as a 2yo but not lived upto that this season, finishing unplaced in both Irish Guineas and Derby before couple of only fair seconds the last wice (winner on last start might not have been at her best); This yet tougher.

Waldpark: Star German 2yo colt, having made it 4 from 4 in German Derby, coming from midfield in impressive style given the testing conditions; That form has already been boosted since and holds a major chance here with soft ground no problem.

Colombian: Improved for step up in trip when a well backed and clear cut winner of Chester maiden, and has bettered that with two huge runs in major French races, fourth in the French Derby and then a luckless third in Group 2 over this C&D; Can go well although this is a stiffer test.

Slow Pace: Promising when winning first two starts, staying on well to land Listed event before bumping into class acts on last three occasions, often getting poor trip; No reason n for him to reverse form with Colombian form last meeting.

Golden Lilac: Unbeaten in five starts, having won cosily on both runs at two before running out an easy winner of the Prix de la Grotte, travelling easily throughout before putting race to bed with ease; Exceptional winner of French Guineas when quickening brilliantly off prominent position to leave field for dead and did the double in similar style when taking the impetus from a relatively early stage in straight; This again a big test but shown nothing but class so far.

Galikova: Abundance of promise at 2 when once winner and fifth in Marcel Boussac (too inexperienced) & has delivered on that so far as 3yo, winning conditions contest with plenty to spare over Shareta (gave 3lbs) at Saint Cloud and devastatingly impressive when landing Prix Cleopatre with authority; Got going too late in Prix De Diane behind Golden Lilac and while rematch will be fascinating little separated them when making their moves and winner that day might reverse form.  

VERDICT: A fascinating and high class race that’s a Group 1 in al but name. German Derby winner Waldpark is an each/way steal but it’s impossible to desert GOLDEN LILAC after her stunning Classic double. All ground comes alike to her and I see no reason for Galikova to reverse form as the pair were level when the race started in earnest at Deauville and the superiority was never in doubt.