Sacred Life out to defend home turf in face of strong Anglo-Irish challenge

Criterium International | Group 1 |2yo colts & fillies | 7f turf | ATR

Sacred Life is in the somewhat unusual position for this season of being a French-trained favourite for a juvenile Group 1, and will bid to provide trainer Stephane Wattel and jockey Theo Bachelot with a first career success at the highest level.

Wattel has yet to discover the limits to Sacred Life's potential in three starts and most recently he bolted up by six lengths in the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon.

"I've had no problem with his preparation and am bringing him to the race in exactly the shape I'd hoped to," said Wattel.

"I just would have preferred softer ground because he's shown his talent to best effect when it's been deep."

Last year Thunder Snow came here in search of consolation after a decent run in the Dewhurst to land the second edition of this race since it was shorn of a furlong, a similar path to the one trodden by Threeandfourpence, who finished fourth at Newmarket a fortnight ago.

"We were very pleased with his run in the Dewhurst when he finished fourth," said trainer Aidan O'Brien, who narrowed his potential runners here down from three to one at final declarations.

"He's progressed with each run and came out of his Newmarket race well."

Tate travels in hope of big run from Hey Gaman

Hey Gaman was run down late on by Seahenge in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at DoncasterCredit: Dan Abraham

The form of Threeandfourpence is closely tied to that of Hey Gaman, who finished just behind future Dewhurst third Seahenge when touched off close home in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

"He had an easy week after Donny," said trainer James Tate. "Frankie Dettori has galloped him a couple of times at home and got to know him. He seems in really good form so we're hopeful of a really big run."

Karl Burke has been one of the few trainers to break up the O'Brien monopoly on two-year-old Group 1s this season and drops Ellthea back a furlong after running a fine fifth behind stablemate Laurens in the Fillies' Mile.

"She's had a long season but goes there in good order and this looks a good opportunity to get some Group 1 black type," said Burke.

"Colm [O’Donoghue] felt the ground was against her at Newmarket but I’d say the trip counted as well, and she should be better over a slow-ground seven furlongs."

Harry Dunlop steps Fighting Irish up in trip after he graduated in style from a Yarmouth nursery to defeating Nebo in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.

"It's only two weeks later but he enjoys his racing," said the trainer. "The ground will be fine and he had an issue the last time we tried seven so he might have got a little bit tired that day.

"It's a question, because although he's by Camelot there's plenty of speed on the dam's side."

Woodmax brings solid form from his fourth-placed effort in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a race that Cascadian was forced to miss after the Andre Fabre-trained colt had suffered a hold up.

"Cascadian got sick after his Deauville outing and was a bit short of work so he had a nice easy race at Maisons-Laffitte," said Fabre.

"He deserves to take his chance in this company and he's a nice colt."

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