Manduro cemented his reputation as the best older horse in Europe with a dominating victory in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques le Marois (Fr-I) at Deauville August 12.
The win kept the 5-year-old undefeated in four starts this year, with the last three victories coming in group I’s.
To ensure an honest pace, trainer Andre Fabre had also entered Toylsome in the one-mile contest. Toylsome, under jockey Johan Victoire, set a strong gallop from the start, with Manduro sitting just off of the pace in second.
Manduro and jockey Stephane Pasquier took command with just under two furlongs left, quickly accelerating away from the field to win easily by three lengths. Holocene, a 3-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid making his group I debut, won the battle for second by a half-length over Turtle Bowl.
Time for the eight furlongs was 1:37.4 over the good turf course.
Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-I) winner Lawman turned in a disappointing performance. He finished last, beaten 13 lengths. Jockey Olivier Peslier was at a loss to explain his colt’s poor effort. “We were beaten after three furlongs, and he was not the same horse I had ridden in the past,” Peslier said. “His work was super before the race, and his effort is a big mystery.”
Manduro will next be pointed toward the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) October 7. The son of Monsun will use the Prix Foy (Fr-II) in September as a prep for the Arc. Plans also include a trip to the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Monmouth Park, where he more than likely will run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
