Tactical Takes On Campanelle in Fascinating Prix Morny

The Aug. 23 Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville, being one of the first group 1 races for 2-year-olds in Europe, is duly the one true 2-year-old group 1. That is to say, if you want a horse that you can retire after its juvenile season, the Morny is probably the race to win.

Recognition of that has, somewhat perversely, led to the race becoming a bit more open-sex in a genuine sense, rather than just a nominal one. A fast filly can be asked to take her chance and, as Lady Aurelia and Pretty Pollyanna have proved, they can win.

Campanelle is taking almost exactly the same route Wesley Ward used with Lady Aurelia in 2016, and an equivalent one to that he used with No Nay Never in 2013. Campanelle's Queen Mary Stakes (G2) win was given a boost Aug. 20, as runner-up Sacred improved even though she filled the same position again in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (G2).

Conversely, the collateral form of Tactical's Windsor Castle Stakes score and his Tattersalls July Stakes (G2) win took a hit when Yazaman was well beaten in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (G2). Even so, the depth of Tactical's form is greater (Campanelle and Sacred were clear of a 100-1 shot) and he is a sure thing to keep progressing at six furlongs, maybe even further. The same cannot be said with complete certainty for Campanelle, who comes from a speedy family.

"He has been an absolute star," trainer Andrew Balding said of Tactical. "This was always the next logical step after Newmarket. The Ascot and Newmarket form could have worked out a bit better but he won both races well, he seems in great form, and we have a top man (Pierre-Charles Boudot) on board. He is in fighting fit form."

The Coventry Stakes (G2) winner is also in the field. Clive Cox trainee Nando Parrado is clearly a much better horse than his odds that day (150-1) implied, but that is not to say he is any great shakes as far as Coventry winners go and that form has taken more than its share of knocks this year.

"I'm very happy with him and I'm pleased to be coming here off a Royal Ascot success," Cox said. "He had a minor setback before the Robert Papin (G2) but apart from that everything has been full steam ahead and I'm delighted that he travels over in excellent form. We've got to prove we handle conditions but we're very hopeful on that score."

Most of the field have proved themselves at group level. The most curious runner in the line-up is Rhythm Master. He debuted last month at Haydock, going off at 16-1 for Richard Fahey whose juveniles were a little slow to get going but are there now. He sprinted away from his rivals, winning by over four lengths in a good time.

By Dark Angel out of a useful sprinter, he is the type to make hay with this year. Going straight to the Morny seems ambitious, and his early price around 5-1 prohibitive, but this is no ordinary wide-margin novice winner. Expect a pattern-class performance this season, even if it does not come here.

"He put in the kind of performance Richard thought he was capable of at Haydock and thoughts initially turned to the Gimcrack," said owner John Dance. "The Morny entry started as a backup in case the race cut up or York turned out to be very quick ground, as he has a bit of an action. The closer we got, a combination of what he was showing at home and the fact both races looked pretty hot, the Morny started to become more tempting. It's an epic leap in class but based on what we know so far, we think Rhythm Master could turn out in 12 months time to be one of the best three horses Jess and myself have had."

The Prix Morny winner will receive an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge series.

'Very Fast' Campanelle Excites Ward

Within every one of Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot squads punters have learned to respect whatever he runs in the Queen Mary Stakes, and America's most Europhile trainer believes this year's winner, Campanelle, could be just as good as either of his previous two winners of the Morny.

"She's very fast and she's bigger than the other two, even No Nay Never," said Ward. "She's got a longer stride and I think she'll end up going further than the other two.

"With Lady Aurelia, off that resounding win she had in the Queen Mary, everybody had real high expectations, thinking she would emulate that and just bound away. What really got her and what we found out after that race is that she was a tiger at five. We were kind of holding our breath the last bit over six because they were coming after her. This filly will go further and I think she's going to revel at six furlongs and perhaps even a mile as we get to the fall."

Watching Campanelle get a feel of the Deauville turf this week it was clear the daughter of Kodiac is indeed a big filly, though longer and perhaps more elegant than many of the Ward power models. 

Ward added: "She worked on the grass at Arlington Park the last few times and had a nice breeze on Saturday with my main work rider Julio Garcia, who breezed Lady Aurelia and No Nay Never all of their careers. He's very confident as well in what's underneath him. I'm really excited and travel seems easy for her."

Campanelle coped with easy ground at Ascot and, while she has not been asked any serious questions on what will in all probability be an even deeper surface here, Ward does not expect the going to be an excuse.

"I'm not really that concerned about the soft ground, she's proved she likes it and that it won't be an issue," he said. "In the past, especially with No Nay Never, I was really concerned about the ground with him going into the race. With this filly I'm not as worried about it as she's proven on it."