Coroebus the One to Beat in Jacques le Marois

Coroebus  bids to make it three group 1 wins for the season Aug. 14 in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville.

After his blistering performance in the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1), then a less-convincing reprise in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, this will be his first test against older horses and fillies.

While that factor should be borne in mind, we can at least be relatively sure the circumstances which conspired to almost bring about his downfall—a dawdling pace and having to move earlier than ideal to avoid being trapped on the rail—should not come into play Sunday.

A minor niggle ended dreams of a showdown with Baaeed in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1), but victory in a race that Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin have won six times would be anything but a consolation prize.

Appleby said: "He's well over his setback and he's put some nice work in over the past week and goes into the weekend in great shape.

"It's a strong running of the Prix Jacques le Marois but we're going there in good order and I'm keen to see him back.

"He's unbeaten this year and I feel that if we see anywhere near the Coroebus that we saw in the Guineas, he's going to be a very big player and the one to beat."

At his best, Coroebus has a fearsome turn of foot and he should get to run at the pace he craves, with confirmed frontrunner Bathrat Leon , as well as State of Rest , both candidates to force things early. 

State of Rest has the real 'X factor' in the line-up as he makes his first start over a mile since finishing third at listed level in June 2021. 

The 2021 Saratoga Derby (G1T) winner's exploits around the world at a mile and two furlongs since then have marked him out as a rare and adaptable talent, while Joseph O'Brien and Shane Crosse came up with a surprising change of tactics in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) when making all. 

State of Rest has his own finishing kick and it is too simplistic to expect a carbon copy of Ascot, given this is over two furlongs less. That said, if Ryusei Sakai looks as if he is enjoying too easy a time in the lead on Bathrat Leon, Crosse will not be afraid to increase the tempo. 

O'Brien Tests Limits of State of Rest

When British and Irish trainers first started targeting the emerging international calendar in the 1980s and 90s, there was a feeling Europe's best always had at least a chance of knocking over the locals. 

The thought that winning a Saratoga Derby (G1T), a Cox Plate (G1) or a Prix Ganay (G1) is somehow taking the easy route holds no water in 2022, and so it was a highlight at Royal Ascot when State of Rest was able to show a 'home audience' what they had been missing.

Now Joseph O'Brien and the son of Starspangledbanner 's ambitious owners are looking to add further luster to his already impressive record in tackling one of the best group 1 fields of the year at a quarter of a mile short of where those four successes were achieved.

O'Brien said: "He's travelled over well and we're looking forward to the race. We're hopeful he can at least perform to a high level.

"Whether or not he's up to winning a top-class group 1 over a mile, we'll find out, but we're confident on what he's done at home that he'll run very well."