Jeu De Memoire gave Godolphin their 41st winner of the year yesterday, winning the Prix de la Sainte Victoire by two-and-a-half lengths. Trained by Andre Fabre and making his first career start, Jeu De Memoire settled a close second early on in the eight-furlong race in Marseille, France, and when asked to quicken one-and-half furlongs out, he responded, surging to the front and easily winning in 1min 30.80secs on good to soft ground.
In the EBF Maiden Stakes in Nottingham, England, Roayh made a disappointing debut, finishing fifth. The two-year-old Speightstown colt was smartly into his stride and raced prominently down centre of the course, disputing the lead for a time before half-way. But the Saeed bin Suroor-trained horse faded out of contention with a furlong left. Hudoo, meanwhile, marked his seasonal return and second career outing with a fifth-place finish at Fillies' Handicap Stakes in Nottingham.
Today, Barbegal make his seasonal return at the Prix Version II at Saint-Cloud, France today. The Fabre-trained horse steps down in class today and faces seven others. He was fifth behind Buzzword in a seven-furlong Group Three race at Longchamp last time out in September but, prior to that, he was a winner on both of his previous starts, by a length in an extended seven-furlong Deauville contest in August and easily in a six-furlong Maisons-Laffitte maiden in July.
Also in France, Chasing Halos goes in the Priz Verso II, a conditions race over eight furlongs. This will be his third career outing and his debut in the colours of Godolphin. He was a winner by three-quarters of a length of a minor contest over a mile at Longchamp last month and a runner-up over the same trip on his debut in a Fontainebleau newcomers' race in March. Mahmood al Zarooni will be interested to see how Vow of Silence fares over six furlongs on her debut, at Goodwood, England, in the Mel Wood Celebration of Life Maiden Fillies' Stakes, today. The two-year-old daughter of Bertolini is up against nine fillies.
In the Listed Blue Square Height of Fashion Stakes today at the same venue, Wedding March makes her his first appearance of this year and third career start. Also at Goodwood this evening, Eavesdropper and Rewilding, both trained by al Zarooni, line up in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes. Eavesdropper made a winning debut over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park earlier this month while Rewilding makes his first outing in Britain.
Meanwhile, Marcus Tregoning admits Mawatheeq, owned by Sheikh Hamdan, faces a race against time to be ready for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. The five-year-old, winner of the Cumberland Lodge last year and second in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, was forced to miss the Dubai World Cup after suffering a setback. "He's in great form but it's possible Ascot may just come a bit too quick for him," the trainer told At The Races.
"Expect to see him later in the summer and the race I have in my mind for him is the King George. I think that would be a very suitable race for him and he'll certainly be ready for then. "He's gradually stepping up his programme and moving well for him and I'm happy with his condition at the moment." Meezaan, another Sheikh Hamdan horse, is to be aimed at Royal Ascot's Jersey Stakes following his creditable effort in the French 2,000 Guineas.
The John Gosden-trained colt is to revert to seven furlongs after fading into fifth place in the closing stages at Longchamp on Sunday. "He ran well. I thought for a minute he was going to come through and win it when Richard Hills [the jockey] switched him on to the rail, but his stamina just gave out," said Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager. * With agencies