Earthlight 'a Guineas horse for sure' after a scintillating Morny success

The Darley Prix Morny usually goes some way to determining champion juvenile honours but it has also been used en route to Classic glory. And after Earthlight roared home in front of Queen Mary heroine Raffle Prize it was Newmarket in May preoccupying winning trainer Andre Fabre.

Coral introduced Earthlight at 10-1 for next season's Qipco 2,000 Guineas while Paddy Power went 12-1 that the son of Shamardal might replicate the feat of Fabre's only other Morny winner, the mighty Zafonic.

Fabre said: "He'll go further and he'll be a Guineas horse for sure. It's a question of whether he runs again this season or just has a break. I would favour Newmarket [over Longchamp]. If he recovers he might [go for the Dewhurst]."

Fabre rarely enthuses over one of his horses publicly but he admitted in the build-up to the race that he held Earthlight in very high regard, while defeating some of the best juveniles that Britain and Ireland can offer has not dimmed his ardour.

Sheikh Mohammed with Earthligh after his stunning success in the Darley Prix Morny at DeauvilleCredit: Patrick McCann

Fabre said: "For me it's one of the best races for two-year-olds in Europe this season so I'm obviously delighted. I was not over-confident because it was tough opposition. He did [show a great attitude] and that's Shamardal, who is a super sire. He is a top-class horse, obviously, top class."

Mickael Barzalona might chiefly be remembered for celebrations at the climax of both the Derby and Dubai World Cup, but in general he is a calm presence in the winner's enclosure.

But the pleasure he gleaned from man-marking Frankie Dettori on Raffle Prize before delivering the coup de grace a furlong down – and all with his great patron Sheikh Mohammed watching on – was clear to all as he gave a triumphant wave of the whip just past the line.

No looking back... Earthlight and Mikael Barzalona after winning the Darley Prix MornyCredit: Patrick McCann

"We've always been keen to see this horse express his talent at the top level and now, despite worries about the ground, he has shown it," Barzalona said.

"I always had Raffle Prize in my sights and when I got to her girths I still felt I had loads of horse under me. Anytime you can do that on a day when His Highness is present is special."

Earthlight and Raffle Prize finished two and threequarter lengths clear of Golden Horde in third, with two more Ascot winners, Arizona and A'Ali, strung out behind.

Neither of the front two were stopping at the line and while bookmakers were concentrating on quotes for the Commonwealth Cup for the runner-up, Mark Johnston would have every right to be thinking of a 1,000 Guineas campaign.

Johnston: pleased with Raffle Prize's second-place effortCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We keep coming second in Group 1s this year but there you go," said Johnston. "I think it was still a good decision to come here. The alternative was to go to the Lowther at York and another Group 2. I think she has confirmed herself for the moment as the leading filly in Europe so I think it's a job done.

"She has won two Group 2s and it's better to be second in a Group 1 to a colt. She’ll go to the Cheveley Park next."

Should Johnston require any further encouragement to think of Raffle Prize as a Classic candidate – there is plenty of 20-1 about her for the 1,000 Guineas – he will be consoled in his ambitions by the examples of Natagora and Special Duty, who won the 2008 and 2010 Guineas after finishing second in the Morny.

Would it be too much to think one race could supply both Guineas winners for the following spring? Perhaps. But we certainly saw a colt and a filly who have every right to be considered leading Classic contenders.

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