Deauville toasts Announce victory

Leading owner Khalid Abdullah enjoyed another notable big-race one-two as Announce just denied Timepiece in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

Deauville toasts Announce victory

Leading owner Khalid Abdullah enjoyed another notable big-race one-two as Announce just denied Timepiece in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

The four-year-old fillies had the race between them in the final furlong, and at one stage it looked as though Tom Queally would lift the Group One prize on the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Timepiece.

Queally had his mount ideally placed in second as Lily Of The Valley made the running, moving smoothly to the front when he asked her to quicken.

However, Maxime Guyon had other ideas on Announce and drove Andre Fabre`s charge into the lead in the last 100 yards to grab the spoils by a short neck, with two and a half lengths back to Lily Of The Valley in third.

"That was great. They`ve run super races, both of them," said the owner's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who on Wednesday saw Twice Over and Midday dominate the Abdullah-sponsored Juddmonte International at York.

"That was a first Group One win for Announce and Timepiece has already won one (the Falmouth Stakes), so it`s good for the stud.

"We`ll see how we go before making plans. Obviously we`ll try to avoid each other now."

Frederick Engels was strongly fancied to be the third successive British-trained winner of the Darley Prix Morny after Dream Ahead and Arcano, but David Brown`s colt failed to fire in a race won impressively by Dabirsim.

Given a confident ride by Frankie Dettori, his only mount on the card, the unbeaten Dabirsim took the field apart with a terrific turn of foot a furlong out to secure win number four.

Family One made a sterling job of trying to make all the running, but had no answer to the Christophe Ferland-trained colt, who swept by in the style of a potentially very smart performer to win by three lengths.

Vladimir was third and Sofast fourth, with Frederick Engels only fifth having had every chance in the hands of Johnny Murtagh.

Murtagh had the Windsor Castle and July Stakes winner sat in second early on, but he could not pick up when it mattered. It was reported that Frederick Engels coughed at the start.

The Mick Channon-trained Gatepost was last.

Coral gave Dabirsim an opening quote of 14-1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the colt could have his first run at Headquarters in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes next month.

"Dabirsim's trainer Christophe Ferland may not be well-known to British punters at the moment, but the colt was an impressive winner of the Morny, and as an unbeaten Group One winner, deserves his prominent position in the Guineas betting," said Coral's David Stevens.

Jukebox Jury put up a tip-top performance when making most of the running to land the Darley Prix Kergorlay.

Neil Callan soon had the Mark Johnston-trained grey at the head of affairs and had an easy lead, which enabled him to dictate his own pace.

The jockey made a bold move by bringing the five-year-old entire across to centre of the track in the straight, and he then went further over to the stands side.

He appeared to lose no ground by that move as Jukebox Jury, the 5-1 joint-favourite, galloped on strongly, relishing the step up to a mile and seven furlongs.

Kasbah Bliss was three lengths back in second with Luca Cumani`s Manighar edged out for third by Brigantin.

Red Cadeaux, the other British raider, threatened briefly and was just out of the places in fifth.

Johnston revealed the win provided the platform to an ambitious Group One programme for Jukebox Jury.

The Middleham trainer said: "He stayed the trip very well. He dictated the pace, which helped a lot, and he never saw another horse.

"There are heaps of options. We`ll be wanting to go the Group One route. Someone has suggested the Prix du Cadran, so that comes into it a bit, but most likely is the Irish St Leger, Canadian International, Hong Kong Vase and the Japan Cup.

"That`s the programme we`ve laid out for him at the moment and has been

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