Group 1 gold: all you need to know about a wide-open Prix Morny

Darley Prix Morny | Group 1 | 2yo colts & fillies | 6f Turf

It has largely been one-way traffic in exchanges between the French and Anglo-Irish two-year-olds this summer, with the Gallic juveniles frequently being put in their place.

The exception has been the Matthieu Palussiere-trained Different League, who sparked wild scenes among her Irish owners when defeating the highly touted Alpha Centauri in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race the pair had to themselves throughout most of the final quarter mile.

Different League had run at Lyon and Angers previously, arriving at Ascot as an unknown quantity before marking herself down as a potentially top-drawer filly and providing a first royal meeting success for her trainer, jockey Antoine Hamelin and owners Con and Theresa Marnane.

"Everything has gone well since Ascot and she's worked well," said Palussiere. "The form of the Albany seems good and I hope that proves to be the case again on Sunday."

Burke double handed

The Prix Robert Papin over half a furlong shorter is one of the key traditional stepping stones to the Morny, although Unfortunately would be only the third horse this century after Divine Proportions and Reckless Abandon to complete the double.

Karl Burke's charge had to survive a lengthy stewards' inquiry at Maisons-Laffitte after leaving fourth-placed High Dream Milena short of room, but was comfortably on top of Frozen Angel at the line.

Burke also runs Havana Grey, who continued his progressive summer when showing extreme ground holds no fears at Goodwood in the Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs

The trainer said: "Both colts have travelled over well and look fantastic. I couldn't be happier with them and I'm surprised the three colts in the race are the three outsiders.

"I'd have said there was a question mark about Havana Grey over this trip until the Molecomb, when he was running away from them in the last 100 yards.

"If they go very quick it might play into the hands of Unfortunately, and he's guaranteed to stay."

Conditions 'perfect' for Nyaleti

Nyaleti bolts up by five lengths at Ascot last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Were it not for having bumped into first September and then Clemmie – the only two fillies trading at single figures for next season's Qipco 1,000 Guineas – Nyaleti would be heading to Deauville with an unbeaten record and in search of a five-timer.

Nyaleti lost little caste in either her Ascot or Newmarket defeats before streaking clear of her rivals on a soggy King George day at Ascot to win the Princess Margaret Stakes by five lengths, leading her trainer Mark Johnston to observe she had once again improved.

"She hasn't done any fast work since Ascot but seems still to be on an upward curve," said Johnston. "Conditions all seem to be perfect here and although we had to think very carefully about going to the Lowther we opted to strike while the iron's hot and aim for the Group 1."

Tantheem a rare Morny chance for Head

Aside from the Papin, the main French trial for this race comes at the beginning of the meeting in the Prix de Cabourg, which this season was won by Tantheem in impressive fashion.

Mickael Barzalona kicked her into a lead she would never surrender and the margin was three and a half lengths over the Richard Fahey-trained Darkanna.

Freddy Head has yet to win the Morny as a trainer, while 1990 winner Hector Protector was the last of his four successes in the plate.

"She's very well and I'm very happy with her," said Head. "The ground won't matter to her but it's a good field and obviously this is tougher than the Cabourg."

Dream team hoping for a clear run

High Dream Milena would almost certainly have finished a lot closer in the Prix Robert Papin, having previously impressed when beating Tantheem on debut.

Connections took their case to appeal, raceday stewards having decided not to alter the Papin result, but they were unsuccessful, leaving the filly to do the talking on the track as she reopposes Unfortunately.

Criquette Head-Maarek, trainer of High Dream Milena, said: "The filly is working well and she's fine, but there are some good horses in the race. I walked the course on Saturday and if it doesn't rain before the race the ground will be perfect."

And not forgetting . . .

The fifth filly in the line-up, Zonza is unbeaten in three and trainer Didier Guillemin has had high-class juveniles through his hands in the past.

He said: "The filly worked well down at Mont de Marsan and has been up in Deauville for a week, since when she breezed over the Polytrack. She's unbeaten in three and has done it well each time."

Dameron was nominated for the race by Christophe Ferland immediately after suffering no luck when runner-up on debut here three weeks ago.

Ferland said: "He's been working well and we thought we'd gamble and go for this. He was unlucky last time and the only mark against him is that he lacks the experience of the others."