Excelebration excels at Deauville

RACING:CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON, a late replacement for Ryan Moore, partnered Excelebration to victory in the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville yesterday.

Moore had been stood down for the day following a fall two races earlier leaving Aidan O’Brien without a jockey but connections were quick to snap up the services of the brilliant Belgian.

The hotly contested mile saw Elusive Kate jump out in front with Cityscape for company but the fractions that Frankie Dettori set on the hat-trick seeking filly were far from strong.

Several rivals were pulling for their heads in behind with Most Improved and Golden Lilac notably keen and the slow pace also led to some trouble in running as the field bunched up with Moonlight Cloud badly hampered.

When Dettori kicked from the front, it initially appeared as though he had Excelebration in trouble but the favourite dug deep as Soumillon got serious with him and was well on top at the line. He was chased home by Cityscape, with Elusive Kate third but there were hard luck stories with Moonlight Cloud flashing home to finish fourth, one place ahead of the remarkable Caspar Netscher.

O’Brien was absent, but spokesman Tom Goff said: “He is in the Moulin and the QEII and I think one or other, or both, is next on the horizon for him.”

Trainer Roger Charlton said of Cityscape: “We’ve been beaten by a plainly better horse today, but it was a brave effort and he galloped all the way to the line.

“We can’t be anything other than pleased, and now anything is possible. Ascot (Champions Day) would be a target, depending on what Frankel does.”