Coroebus 'the one to beat' - Appleby confident for Jacques le Marois run

Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (Group 1) | 3yo+ colts & fillies | 1m | SKY

The second of the European summer's twin peaks at a mile comes just 18 days after the first at Goodwood, with the presence of Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes having ensured an extremely high-quality line-up here.

The market is still bullish on the three-year-old crop in this division and Coroebus bids to make it three Group 1s for the season after his blistering performance in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, then a less-convincing reprise at Royal Ascot.

This will be his first test against older horses and fillies, and while those factors should be borne in mind, we can at least be relatively sure the circumstances which conspired to almost bring about his downfall – a dawdling pace and having to move earlier than ideal to avoid being trapped on the rail – should not come into play.

At his best, Coroebus has a fearsome turn of foot and he should get to run at the pace he craves, with confirmed frontrunner Bathrat Leon, as well as State Of Rest, both candidates to force things early.

State Of Rest has the real X factor in the line-up as he makes his first start over a mile since finishing third at Listed level in June 2021.

His exploits around the world at 1m2f since then have marked him out as a rare and adaptable talent, while Joseph O'Brien and Shane Crosse came up with a surprising change of tactics in the Prince of Wales's Stakes when making all.

State Of Rest has his own finishing kick and it is too simplistic to expect a carbon copy of Ascot, given this is over two furlongs less. That said, if Ryusei Sakai looks as if he is enjoying too easy a time in the lead on Bathrat Leon, Crosse will not be afraid to increase the tempo.

Prosperous Voyage and Inspiral renew their rivalry after Ralph Beckett's runner refused to read the script in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes, ruining the Frankie Dettori-John Gosden reunion as well as the day of anyone who took odds of 1-7 about Inspiral.

The Coronation Stakes version of Inspiral was as easy on the eye as any Group 1 winner at the royal meeting, save perhaps for the brutal display of power from Nature Strip in the King's Stand.

She may well have significantly underperformed at Newmarket but the same is undoubtedly true of Prosperous Voyage at Ascot and the bookmakers might well have too much daylight between the pair.

History might point to a couple of other names away from those four stars who could get involved.

Deauville is one of the easiest miles in Europe and Light Infantry's ability to perform so well in the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs is far from a negative. Think of the great sprinter/milers who have won this fabled prize, such as Whipper and Moonlight Cloud.

And if you set out to breed a horse to win the Jacques le Marois, you might come up with something that looked a lot like Erevann, who is unbeaten in lesser company for Jean-Claude Rouget and the Aga Khan, and who has a Marois winner in Dubawi and a Prix Rothschild heroine in Ervedya for parents.

Coroebus ready to shine after Sussex setback

The early weeks of the Flat turf season when Charlie Appleby was in irresistible form may seem a distance away, but the fact remains he has sent out three colts to win three versions of the 2,000 Guineas.

All the evidence points to Coroebus being half a step better than either Native Trail or Modern Games and for all that not everyone was thrilled with his win in the St James's Palace Stakes, he sets an exacting standard.

A minor niggle ended dreams of a showdown with Baaeed in the Sussex, but victory in a race that Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin have won six times would be anything but a consolation prize.

Coroebus toughing it out in the St James's Palace StakesCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

Appleby said: "He's well over his setback and he's put some nice work in over the past week and goes into the weekend in great shape.

"It's a strong running of the Prix Jacques le Marois but we’re going there in good order and I'm keen to see him back.

"He's unbeaten this year and I feel that if we see anywhere near the Coroebus that we saw in the Guineas, he's going to be a very big player and the one to beat."

Joseph O'Brien out to discover limits of State Of Rest

When British and Irish trainers first started targeting the emerging international calendar in the 1980s and 90s, there was a feeling Europe's best always had at least a chance of knocking over the locals.

The thought that winning a Saratoga Derby, a Cox Plate or a Prix Ganay is somehow taking the easy route holds no water in 2022, and so it was a highlight at Royal Ascot when State Of Rest was able to show a 'home audience' what they had been missing.

State Of Rest will be chasing a fifth Group 1 in four different countriesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Now Joseph O'Brien and the son of Starspangledbanner's ambitious owners are looking to add further lustre to his already impressive record in tackling one of the best Group 1 fields of the year at a quarter of a mile short of where those four successes were achieved.

O'Brien said: "He's travelled over well and we're looking forward to the race. We're hopeful he can at least perform to a high level.

"Whether or not he's up to winning a top-class Group 1 over a mile, we'll find out, but we're confident on what he's done at home that he'll run very well."

What they say

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Bathrat Leon
I think it was a beautiful gallop [here on Wednesday]. He was very smooth and moved well and I'm very satisfied. It will be his first time on a straight track and I am a little bit concerned about that. We want him to lead.

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Djo Francais and Erevann
I've tried to keep them both fresh for a race which will be a very difficult test, as they are both going up in class. I expect them to run well but they are place chances and it is hard to see either one winning.

Prosperous Voyage and Rob Hornby defeat odds-on favourite Inspiral in the Falmouth StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Prosperous Voyage
Prosperous Voyage settled in well on arrival at Deauville and exercised on Saturday morning at the track. She has it all to do but she is in good shape and the track will suit her.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Inspiral
Inspiral had a long layoff from October to June before she ran at Royal Ascot and in hindsight we perhaps ran her back a bit quick after that in the Falmouth Stakes. She's had a nice freshen up and seems happy and well at home. Obviously, it's a quality field of colts and a couple of fillies, but she has every right to take her place in the field. The straight mile at Deauville should suit her.

David Simcock, trainer of Light Infantry
He's trained well since the Jean Prat and we were all very pleased with him. We're pretty convinced he'll be better at a mile, though he will have to be. It's a very good race and the only thing is that when you go through the whole field, I don't think there's a horse going there off the back of absolutely everything going right. It'll be tough for him but I think he's one of those horses that won't let you down.

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