Top Milers Palace Pier, Poetic Flare Face Off in Marois

Earlier this week, Palace Pier  and Poetic Flare , two of the best milers we have seen since the turn of the century, were available at odds of 7-2 and 4-1, respectively, to win the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) Aug. 15 at Deauville.

Offering such big prices may have been seen as lunacy, but that was when the unbeaten Baaeed  remained in the field. Now that the William Haggas-trained colt bypasses this target with the Queen Elizabeth II QIPCO Stakes (G1) in mind, we should get the match everyone wanted at Glorious Goodwood.

Palace Pier and Poetic Flare were scheduled to take each other on for the first time in a top-class edition of the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) last month.

However, the former had to miss the big day after suffering from a blood disorder. Patience is often rewarded and Deauville has been chosen for the pair to clash.

Palace Pier is yet to tackle runners from the classic generation this season. The John and Thady Gosden-trained champion has proved imperious since bottomless ground put paid to his chance at Ascot in October, which came just 62 days after he took his career record to five wins from as many starts in this race.

Now he attempts to become the first horse to win the Jacques Le Marois in successive years since Spinning World in 1997.

St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) and QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Poetic Flare provides stiff opposition given his seven pound weight-for-age allowance. Even in Palace Pier's absence he failed to add another success at Goodwood—eventually succumbing to the relentless challenge of Alcohol Free —but soft ground has always been considered a negative. Now he gets his ideal conditions.

So why isn't Poetic Flare vying for favoritism? Perhaps that is due to his busy schedule. Poetic Flare has danced every dance this season. This will be his seventh start in four months and sixth crack at a group 1 prize. Maintaining a high level of performance isn't always achievable.

Although it is billed as a heavyweight clash between the two, rule out their rivals at your mercy as 4-year-olds Victor Ludorum , Order of Australia , and Alpine Star  have all won at the top level. 

You have to go back to last June for Victor Ludorum's Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) romp, but that came over this course and distance and he equaled his career-best Racing Post Rating last time in the Prix Messidor (G3) at Chantilly.

Similarly, Alpine Star's group 1 success came 14 months ago in the Coronation Stakes (G1). She has tackled only the boys on one occasion since progressing from maiden company and that was in this race last year, when she finished three-quarters of a length behind Palace Pier. A repeat effort gives her a brilliant each-way chance.

The winner of the Jacques Le Marois will receive a fees-paid berth in the Nov. 6 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Del Mar as Sunday's race is part of the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

'He'll Have to be at His Best' 

Connections of Palace Pier know he must be at the top of his game to continue his unbeaten season in a belated clash with Poetic Flare.

The 4-year-old, who beat Alpine Star in this race last year, won at Sandown on his first start of the season before landing the Al Shaqab Lockinge (G1) at Newbury and the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. 

He was set to take on his younger rival Poetic Flare in the Sussex Stakes but was ruled out a week earlier due to a blood disorder. 

"He'll have to be at his best because it's a very competitive race," said Thady Gosden, who trains in partnership with his father John.

"It was a real shame to miss Goodwood with him but fortunately we had enough time to get him right for this and he's back in good form.

"He's fairly versatile in terms of ground but wouldn't want it to be at the extremes. The last few days have been dry but they watered the track last night, which will hopefully take the sting out of the ground."

'We're Going to be Serious Competitors'

Jim Bolger has not lost any faith in Poetic Flare as the classic winner attempts to bounce back from his defeat in the Sussex Stakes.

The 3-year-old won the Two Thousand Guineas and, after finishing second in the Irish equivalent, won the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on good to firm ground. However, he then struggled with testing conditions in the Sussex Stakes when second to Alcohol Free.

"It was just the ground at Goodwood," said Bolger. "Obviously, the winner is very good but it was definitely a sub-par run from him. We'd have liked more rain as the ground would have been looser.

"He's so much better on good ground. We were probably fooled a bit at the Curragh but his class enabled him to put up such a good performance. He was then a revelation at Royal Ascot.

"The competition is there, like us this time. While we have great respect for them all, we're going to be serious competitors."

On how he hopes the race might be run, Bolger said: "I don't think it matters too much as long as there's an even pace. These stop-start races don't suit any horse, except maybe the ones who might be suspect stamina-wise. This fellow has all the class in the world, is very quick, and any sort of a reasonably run race would suit him."