Newmarket preview: Royal Lodge Stakes (14.00)
Published:
Deauville has looked a top notch prospect in winning both his starts and can maintain his unbeaten record to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a sixth winner of the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (14.00).
The colt overcame greenness to score in good style by two lengths on debut over 7f at Listowel on heavy ground, and then took the step up into Group 3 company in his stride to land the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown.
Deauville showed plenty of pace in the latter before staying on strongly inside the final furlong to get the better of Sanus Per Aquam by 1/2 a length.
The beautifully bred son of Galileo was well on top at the finish, and the pair pulled 4 1/2 lengths clear of the field.
It was a most taking performance, and the runner-up is held in very high regard and won the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes earlier in the week to give the form a rock solid look.
The step up to 1m looks sure to suit Deauville, and with Ryan Moore in the saddle he can land the hat-trick before going on to even better things.
Foundation is also unbeaten in two starts and is undoubtedly the main danger to Deauville in what looks a match on paper.
The John Gosden trained colt overcame a slow start to score readily by 3 1/2 lengths on debut at Haydock, and followed up in impressive fashion at the same venue when landing a 1m Listed contest by three lengths.
Foundation was once again slowly away in the latter, but travelled strongly into the contest and made smooth headway from two out to take up the running inside the last.
The son of Zoffany then showed a smart turn of foot to put the race to bed under a hands and heels ride from Frankie Dettori.
More is required to win this, but there is little doubt that Foundation has the potential to be something special and he is a scopey sort open to any amount of improvement.
Coral’s top tip: Deauville brings strong form into the contest and can get the better of Foundation to enhance trainer Aidan O’Brien’s excellent record in the Royal Lodge Stakes
