Manduro on course for Deauville

[Ferdinand]

MANDURO ON COURSE FOR DEAUVILLE
By Nick Robson, PA Sport


Manduro, rated by many as the best horse in the world on turf, is likely to have his next start in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 12.

Andre Fabre's five-year-old looked the real deal as he comfortably held off Dylan Thomas in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, with subsequent Eclipse winner Notnowcato well behind in third.

And even though that performance came over 10 furlongs, connections are contemplating reverting to a mile before maybe even stepping up to a mile and a half for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the end of the season.

"We've nothing concrete at the moment. We are still toying with the idea of running him in the Jacques le Marois, but we haven't decided yet," said Paul Harley, racing manager to owner Baron Georg von Ullmann.

"He's very versatile with regard to the ground, so it won't be that which makes up our mind. We've just always had that (the Marois) in the back of our mind as the next race for him and at the present time nothing has changed.

"The Arc at the end of the season is also still on the agenda, but obviously that won't be decided until we see how he performs between now and then.

"If he attempts 12 furlongs the Arc will be the one and only time he attempts it. He certainly didn't look like a non-stayer at Royal Ascot last time, though.

"That was a proper performance from a top-class horse. But we've always known he was very, very good.

"It was a lovely compliment when the connections of Notnowcato stated that they thought our horse was the best 10-furlong horse around.

"It's good for him that he is finally getting the credit he deserves. He's won two Group Ones in a row now after just getting touched off so many times last year."

(Reprinted from the Sporting Life website)

I hope he makes it to the Arc, I'm a big fan of Monsun.