Confidence Grows in Alpha Centauri Ahead of Next Test

Alpha Centauri is primed for the Aug. 12 Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville, and even the heavens appear to be on the side of Ireland's superstar filly as she prepares to take on the colts for the first time, after a huge storm that shattered windows in the region missed the course.

Winner of the group 1 Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas, Coronation Stakes, and Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes in scintillating fashion this year, Alpha Centauri is odds-on to add a fourth top-level race to her haul in the contest sponsored by her owners, the Niarchos family.

Her cause has been helped by Deauville avoiding much of the rain that fell during storms in northern France, with the ground described as good Aug. 8.

"The weather has been good up to now at Deauville, and they missed a massive storm that hit south of them last night, which threw down hailstones the size of golf balls and broke many windows on the farm," said Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family. "I'm told they might get some rain, but the ground is expected to be on the fast side of good by the weekend.

"All is well with Alpha Centauri, and taking on the colts was a natural progression after the way she won the Falmouth."

Confidence behind Alpha Centauri in the betting is backed up by positive vibes from the saddle, with jockey Colm O'Donoghue buzzing with excitement about his mount's prospects.

"She's been brilliant and done nothing but please us all season," he said. "She's in great form, and I'm excited and looking forward to what she might do on Sunday. She's an exceptional filly and has taken every group 1 we've put her in with ease. This is another group 1 and they're never easy to win, but I'm very grateful to ride such a filly, and she fills me with a lot of confidence.

"We'd love to have nice ground for her—no worse than good—so the rain keeping away would be a help," he added. "As the owners sponsor (the race), it's very close to their hearts. For one of their horses to win it will mean a lot to them, I'm sure."

Trainer Jessica Harrington reported everything to be fine with her brilliant 3-year-old Wednesday, after she was confirmed alongside 10 others for the one-mile event.

She is due to travel to France Aug. 11, and her rivals are set to include Prix Rothschild (G1) victor With You and Recoletos, winner of the Churchill Coolmore Prix d'Ispahan (G1) this season.

Also making the trip to Deauville are the Ken Condon-trained pair Romanised, who will partner with Shane Foley, and Success Days, the mount of Gregory Benoist, while Accidental Agent is bang on course for the contest, according to his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton.

"He's in good form and is going to run in the Prix Jacques Le Marois this weekend," she said. "We'll definitely be looking at running in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) later on, as he loves Ascot and he loves the straight mile."