Perfect Power Seeks Redemption in Maurice de Gheest

Evidence of where the balance of power lies between the top 3-year-old sprinters and their more experienced elders is still fairly scant.

But to judge by the market for the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) a 6 1/2-furlong contest at Deauville, the racing jury has already returned its verdict.

Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) hero Naval Crown  heads most lists, and Artorius , the horse who has rattled home to fill a place behind him at Ascot, then when he finished second in the Darley July Cup (G1), his main market rival.

Perfect Power  surely ran below his best when plugging on for seventh at Newmarket, and there may be a case for recalling one of the many maxims favored by French training legend Maurice Zilber —"losing form is no form at all."

Perfect Power proved himself the best of his generation as a 2-year-old, landing the group 1 Darley Prix Morny/Juddmonte Middle Park double, and showed he maintains that superiority at three when annexing the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Ascot.

His first attempt against older opposition was something of an anti-climax as he was never involved in the July Cup, a race in which a prominent position and a high draw both seemed a big advantage.

Trainer Richard Fahey said: "It was a strange race at Newmarket, he recovered very quickly after the race. I just feel like he didn't perform on the day.

"It's a hard track to come from off the pace, and the race showed that. But he's been in great form ever since, and we're very happy with him."

Having shown his liking for Deauville a year ago and with proven stamina for seven furlongs, as shown in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (G3), Perfect Power is expected to be suited by the unusual distance of the Maurice de Gheest.

"I think he'll be more comfortable coming to Deauville over six and a half furlongs than the six at Newmarket," said Fahey. "At the start of the season it was a race that we earmarked he would definitely be at, and Christophe (Soumillon) was very keen as well."

Of Perfect Power's fancied classmates in the July Cup from the 3-year-old promotion, Cadamosto  reared in the stalls, while a low draw may have compromised the chances of Flaming Rib  and Twilight Jet .

Harry Three  will also carry the torch for the 3-year-olds, and, although the form of his win here in the Prix Kistena might not be the strongest in the line-up, he could not have been more impressive.

It's easy to get caught up with how much difference the extra 100 meters makes when compared with form over a dead six furlongs, but even if an extra grain of stamina does come into play, Naval Crown is still going to be hard to peg back if getting the run on his rivals.

"Naval Crown heads to Deauville in good shape on the back of his second in the July Cup," said Charlie Appleby. "We know that conditions in France are there to suit; he loves quick ground and has run well over seven furlongs in the past.

"Based on his form this year, he looks the one to beat."

Naval Crown has developed into a top sprinter this season, but it should be remembered he was fourth in Poetic Flare 's Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) last year, as well as a close-up second in the Jersey Stakes (G3) over seven furlongs.