Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's group-winning miler Aljamaaheer may find a comfort zone in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-I) for sprinters Aug. 10 at Deauville.
The 5-year-old son of Dubawi was 1 1/2 lengths in third behind Slade Power in Diamond Jubilee (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot. He subsequently floundered in ninth behind the same rival when rated closer to the pace in the July Cup (Eng-I) at Newmarket, both races at six furlongs.
The Maurice de Gheest is run at about 6 1/2 furlongs and the Roger Varian trainee might appreciate the added distance as he seeks a breakthrough at the top level. He won last year's Summer Mile (Eng-II) at Ascot after finishing second to Declaration of War in the Queen Anne (Eng-I) at the royal meeting and third to Farhh in the JLT Lockinge(Eng-I) at Newbury, both also run at a mile.
Trainer John Gosden will bid for a third group I win in as many weeks with Princess Haya's Gregorian, who was third in the July Cup after encountering traffic at Newmarket. Prior to that outing, Gregorian defeated Maurice de Gheest entrant Garswood by one length in the June 28 Criterion Stakes (Eng-III) going seven furlongs at Newmarket.
The Maurice de Gheest attracted a 15-runner field that also includes multiple French group-winning sprinter/miler Sommerabend; Vorda, a group I-winning juvenile who failed to stay in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) before a creditable fourth behind Sommerabend in the seven-furlong Prix de la Porte Maillot (Fr-III) after a poor start; and Thawaany, winner of the Prix de Ris-Orangis (Fr-I) at about 5 1/2 furlongs in June at Deauville.
Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-I), Aug. 10, 3YOU&Up, 1,300 meters (abt. 6 1/2 furlongs) turf, Deauville
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 9. Aljamaaheer (IRE) (Dubawi), D. O'Neill, 128, R. Varian
2. 13. Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art), G. Mosse, 128, R. Fahey
3. 6. Gregorian (IRE), (Clodovil), W. Buick, 128, J. Gosden
4. 14. Gammarth (FR) (Layman), F. Veron, 128, H. A. Pantall
5. 2. Pinturicchio (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor), A. Crastus, 128, E. Lellouche
6. 12. Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal), T. Bachelot, 128, M. Rulec
7. 5. Caspar Netscher (GB) (Dutch Art), J. Crowley, 128, D. Simcock
8. 15. Thawaany (IRE) (Tamayuz), O. Peslier, 125, F. Head
9. 7. Fiesolana (IRE) (Aussie Rules), W. Lee, 125, W. McCreery
10. 3. Viztoria (IRE) (Oratorio), W. Lordan, 125, E. Lynam
11. 8. So Long Malpic (FR) (Fairly Ransom), C. Boudot, 125, T. Lemer
12. 4. Zejel (GB) (Gold Away), J. Auge, 125, C. Ferland
13. 10. Another Party (FR) (Pomellato), A. Hamelin, 123, M. Palussiere
14. 11. Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream), J. Doyle, 120, J. Cecil
15. 1. Vorda (FR) (Orpen), C. Lemaire, 120, P. Sogorb
