Prix Maurice De Gheest 2011

2.45 Deauville

Prix Maurice De Gheest Goldlikova Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €143,025

Picks: Zoffany and Moonlight Cloud (each/way)

Society Rock: Impressive winner of 6f Ascot Listed event on reappearance last year; Beaten when travelling like much the best in Newbury Sprint, but career – best when second in Golden Jubilee (Seventh in July Cup afterwards); Went one better in that event this season and holds a big chance is able to uphold that form (no effort has matched his Ascot form).

Marchand D’Or: Five time Group One winner who completed a hat-trick in this race between 2006 and 2008 but hasn’t come anywhere close to landing a race since and others simply faster now.

Genki: Smart handicapper/group horse who held himself up with high credit, namely when third in Betfair Sprint Cup and also winning his group in Wokingham; Successful reappearance in Abernant Stakes was solid form for the level & respectable run in Golden Jubilee followed up with decent July Cup effort but well behind Dream Ahead.

Markab: Career best after career best last season, winning the Sprint Cup (smashing track record in process) after several Group placed/ winning efforts; Regained that form for the first time this year when second but well beaten to Deacon Blues; Needs far more.

Smooth Operator: Consistent German sprinter who has 4 Group wins to his name but no highest level success; coincidentally, the closest he’s ever gotten to that is when fourth in this last season but now in a better renewal.

Evaporation: In good form of late with third place finishes behind Sahpresa and Goldikova (in front of Marchand d'Or) but unlikely to reverse form with Moonlight Cloud from last meeting.

Havane Smoker: Won first three races with great potential before just losing out to French Navy in Group 3; (forgive his end of season flop); Chinned at post on seasonal debut and looked like making amends in French 2,000 Guineas until last 100 yards, travelling better than whole field; Abysmal run in Jersey Stakes has received no explanation since and passed over for that reason.

Dream Ahead: Brilliant juvenile over 6f, bolting in by 9 lengths on debut, & Coped with fast – track to Group 1 in exemplary fashion when smoothly winning Prix Morny in great style; Ran above even that when running away with Middle Park (soft ground seemed to suit & no surprise that his first win came in July Cup when dropped back to sprinting trip; Should make a bold bid.

Wootton Bassett: Five from five in marvellous juvenile campaign last year, topping sales race double with decisive all the way thrashing in Prix Jean Luc (form upheld since); Unable to show that form this season thanks to poor draw in French Guineas but no explanation for abysmal display at Royal Ascot and best watched for time being.

Zoffany: High class 2yo, fulfilling potential with hat trick of wins highlighted by his cosy Phoenix Stakes success, unsuited by heavy ground when third behind Pathfork in National Stakes; Creditable return (had fallen sick) behind Bewitched in Ballycorus Stakes and new career best when fast closing on Frankel (albeit very much flattered); Backed that up however when just losing out in three way go for French mile Group 1 and dropped in trip, he should take some catching here.

Libranno: Has refound his juvenile form at sprint trips lately, winning the Criterion Stakes well before an even better third in the July Cup; Lennox Stakes fourth was good but not good enough to win this and likely to get competition for the lead.

Split Trois: Unable to carry over juvenile form to this season (winless in 5 starts) and passed over despite an eye-catching run when she got daylight in the end last time.

Moonlight Cloud: Only beaten in Prix Jean Luc as a juvenile and bettered that form this season when an easy winner of Prix Imprudence; Unable to do better than seventh in Guineas but hit front too soon in a  strongly run race, and top class Saphresa too good for her; Would have been caught in a few more strides when back to form in Group 3 at Longchamp latest; Drop back in trip should be fine and big chance here.

VERDICT: A top class renewal. The ground has come right for Dream Ahead to confirm himself the best sprinter in Europe but he offers no value at 5/4 and it may be best to back an each/way horse to make the frame. With Society Rock yet to prove himself outside Ascot, the suggestions for this are Zoffany, who last won over this trip but does want quicker ground, and MOONLIGHT CLOUD, who goes on all surfaces and should be best at this trip.