Starman Takes On Campanelle in Prix Maurice de Gheest

Starman  looked a sprinter with a huge amount to give when rallying from an unpromising position to sweep by his Darley July Cup (G1) rivals at Newmarket last month, and he has the opportunity to emerge as a rare dominant force in the Aug. 8 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville Racecourse.

Starman has the overall profile—lightly raced and only one career defeat—as well as the physique to break into the elite bracket, though the question he may need to answer is whether quick ground is essential to him producing his best.

This week in Deauville has been a typical blend of sunshine and showers along with a stiff breeze, so predicting conditions is not straightforward. There is the potential for more rain to make Saturday's good, good to soft in places even more testing.

Starman's sole career defeat came on treacherous soft ground on Champions Day in October, which connections felt was a contributing factor to his poor display.

Even if the rain does come in significant quantities, Deauville's flat 6 1/2 furlongs at the start of the August meeting will ride very differently to Ascot.

Ultimately Starman might turn out to be ground-dependent but the fact Ed Walker and owner-breeder David Ward are keen to run suggests they feel there is a chance he can perform somewhere near his best, while future options at Haydock and Ascot offer little in the way of weather guarantees.

"He's in great nick and we'd be super confident on fast ground," said Walker. "The softer it gets, the more of a concern it becomes but it will have to be pretty bad for us not to take our chance. When he was beaten on Champions Day at Ascot it was very, very heavy and it's a different heavy there."

In terms of opposition, particular attention must be given to the raft of 3-year-olds to whom he must give weight.

Laws of Indices  and Thunder Moon  excelled here in the Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat (G1) and the winner in particular should have no problem dropping back half a furlong, though Olivier Peslier is unlikely to get such an easy time in front.

Rohaan  has progressed to the point where he is the third highest-rated in the field but has to prove his July Cup run was all wrong.

In receipt of eight pounds in sex allowance and weight-for-age, Campanelle  brings the most dangerous profile, having won the Darley Prix Morny (G1) here as a 2-year-old and seemingly versatile regarding ground.

Course form suggests Lope Y Fernandez  and the remarkable Brando  may be overpriced given their exploits here.  

Rain No Worry for Ward and Campanelle

Wesley Ward is used to casting an anxious eye to the skies on his excursions to Europe but in the case of Campanelle—born and raised in Ireland—the weather presents far fewer concerns than with U.S.-bred sprinters.

Having completed the Royal Ascot-Deauville double last year, Campanelle is looking to repeat the feat and Ward feels she is likely to come forward for her Commonwealth Cup (G1) success, which was her first start since the Breeders' Cup last November.

"Her breezes when she came back off that break were awesome and she ran fantastic at Ascot on her return," said Ward. "I’m looking for her to continue and I wish there was a race for her in America but everything is over 5 1/2 furlongs. Six and a half or seven furlongs are ideal.

"We're all systems go according to the feedback I'm getting from my assistant Melanie (Moliere), who was over with Campanelle last year. She says she has the same energy levels as then so we're in good shape."