Botanik shades Japan's Stay Foolish but connections' Arc hopes remain undimmed

Stay Foolish, one of four Japanese-trained horses likely to line up in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was beaten by Godolphin's Botanik in the Grand Prix de Deauville on Sunday but remains on course for Longchamp.

Cristian Demuro set searching fractions in the Group 2 contest on Stay Foolish, who won two valuable staying prizes in the Middle East earlier this year and is set to be partnered by Christophe Lemaire in the Arc.

He fought hard when challenged by Botanik and went down by a length-and-a-quarter, but connections expect him to improve for the outing over the next five weeks.

"We're not very disappointed by the result as this was a prep race for the Arc and he will improve," said Yukihiko Araki, assistant to trainer Yoshito Yahagi. "He arrived in France only two weeks ago and this was a prep. We'll do our best to have him better for the Arc."

Coral left Stay Foolish unchanged at 33-1 for the big race on October 2, for which they make Titleholder Japan's leading hope at 6-1.

The gelded Botanik will not be heading to the Arc but Mickael Barzalona was pleased with the four-year-old son of Golden Horn, who added Group 2 success to the Group 3 Prix de Reux at the start of the Deauville meeting.

"His class made the difference today," said Barzalona. "He's very tough and loves a good pace to run at."

Tempus terrific again

At a meeting where British and Irish trainers made off with more than their fair share of the spoils, the only two visitors on the card finished one-two in the Prix Quincey, with the Archie Watson-trained Tempus holding the late charge of Internationalangel for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Hollie Doyle and Tempus after winning the Group 3 Prix Quincey at DeauvilleCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"I was really impressed with him, he’s done it quite readily," said winning rider Hollie Doyle. "He's improving with each run, travelling much better and he keeps much straighter under pressure these days."

Bought by Hambleton Racing from Juddmonte at the turn of the year, Tempus was adding to his win in Salisbury's Sovereign Stakes earlier this month.

"It's hard to tell how good he is, he’s won two Group 3s now so the obvious step now is up to Group 2 level," said Doyle. "He would probably get a bit further with the way he settles now, but he’s very effective at this trip. I think Archie has some ambitious plans for him."

Brilliant Bouttemont

The Group 3 Prix de Meautry – the final Pattern prize of the meeting – went to All-Weather Sprint Championships winner Bouttemont under Gregory Benoit for Yann Barberot.

"It took a long time to teach him to settle on a straight track," said Barberot. "Running him around a bend on sand and then at Newcastle really helped him develop. I think he is a pure sprinter."

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