Group 1 winners Watch Me and Earthlight ready to return on Deauville undercard

While Pinatubo and company have deserved top billing at Deauville on Sunday, there are a couple of notable comebacks in a strong set of supporting races on the card.

The Listed Qatar Prix Kistena (1.55) sees the 2020 debut of Earthlight, who went unbeaten in five starts at two including the Prix Morny over this course and distance and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Trainer Andre Fabre has been delayed this spring by a minor sprain to Earthlight's fetlock and, with Pinatubo in the same Godolphin ownership, runs here over 6f without a penalty rather than be pitched straight back into top company over 7f in the Prix Jean Prat.

"I am happy with him and although I would prefer him over a little bit further it’s a good decision to avoid the Group 1," said Fabre. "Earthlight has some speed – he's not a slow horse – but he's not a pure sprinter."

Among his seven rivals, Earthlight faces Additional, who landed a novice event at Lingfield for Martyn Meade by seven and a half lengths and is the mount of Ryan Moore.

Watch Me: won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Watch Me gained her Group 1 laurels in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last June and has not been seen in public since running a slightly unlucky third in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day.

Francis Graffard said ahead of the four-year-old's run in the Listed Qatar Prix de la Calonne (4.35) over a mile: "Watch Me is in very good form and, although she hasn't run for a long time, I'm really happy with her. Of course this is not her [main] objective but it's a good race to make her comeback."

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