Alpha Centauri heads red-hot Marois line-up after Deauville escapes rain

Triple Group 1-winning sensation Alpha Centauri will take her place in the line-up for Sunday's Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois after Deauville escaped the worst of the rain on Thursday.

Niarchos family racing manager Alan Cooper walked the track at Deauville on Friday morning before Alpha Centauri – a filly who requires top-of-the-ground conditions to be at her brilliant best – was confirmed among 11 runners for the €1 million showpiece.

Deauville had been forecast to get as much as 25mm of rain on Thursday but in the end took barely half that amount, with 13mm moving the penetrometer reading to 3.7 by declaration time on Friday.

With strong breezes and rising temperatures the order of the next three days, Jessica Harrington's stable star should have near-perfect conditions by Sunday afternoon.

"The rain on Thursday wasn't nearly as bad as in Chantilly and elsewhere on Thursday and the track is in nice condition this morning," said Cooper. "The expectation for Sunday is good ground, maybe just on the fast side of good."

Among the high-class opposition declared for the mile feature is Queen Anne hero Accidental Agent, along with Romanised, Recoletos and With You, the winners respectively of the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Prix d'Ispahan and Prix Rothschild.

"The straight track will suit, all 11 are declared and she is drawn in four," added Cooper. "It's time to let the filly do the talking."

Alpha Centauri has reeled off a hat-trick of Group 1 successes in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Falmouth Stakes, all on fast ground and with a combined winning margin of 12 and a quarter lengths.

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