UK raider Lady Of Spain enhanced her reputation and looked like a filly going places when winning easily in the feature Listed Prix Petite Etoile at Deauville on Wednesday. Unbeaten in three previous outings, the Roger Varian-trained three-year-old always caught the eye travelling strongly in behind the pacesetters and once manoeuvred towards the centre of the track by a confident-looking Christophe Soumillon, she picked up effortlessly to move into what would prove an unassailable lead. Fabrice Chappet's The White Lady posted a clear career-best to finish back in second, but she was ultimately no match for the runaway winner, who was heavily eased down to score by an impressive three lengths. All four starts and wins have been on all-weather surfaces.
The ultra-consistent Bay d'Argent recorded his fifth victory from fifteen starts when running out a comfortable winner of the Prix Henri Brun (Class 2) on the all-weather at Marseille-Vivaux on Tuesday evening. Trained by Nicolas Perret in the famous colours of prominent owner Jean-Claude Seroul, Bay d'Argent brought a solid level of form to the table having finished third in the Grand Prix de Marseille - 15Eme Etape du Defi du Galop -G. Cam over 2000m at Marseille-Borely in November. The four-year-old gelded son of New Bay tracked the pace under a confident Antonio Orani before effortlessly moving to the front rounding the final bend. Grand Balcon attempted to mount a challenge towards the rail but could never get on terms with Bay d'Argent, who pulled away to score by three lengths crossing the line.
Hunter's Luck made a winning start for new trainer Mme Manon Scandella-Lacaille when effortlessly pulling clear to land the Prix De Sainte-Lucie (two-year-old maiden) at Marseille-Vivaux last night. Previously under the care of Markus Nigge, the son of Hunter's Light was taking his record to two wins from three starts after a decisive victory in a 1900m claimer on the all-weather at Deauville last month. After working her way to the head of affairs from an early stage, jockey Marie Vélon was able to dictate the tempo, and the pair soon had their rivals in trouble turning for home. The chasing pack of three did their best to close in on the longtime leader, but in all truth, they could only chase in vain as Hunter's Light asserted his dominance to score by three lengths.
Soledad left his debut form well behind to run out a narrow winner of the opening race, the Prix Du Merlerault (two-year-old colts and geldings) at Deauville on Wednesday. Fabrice Chappet's two-year-old failed to beat a rival home when last of fourteen on debut over 1500m at the same track late last month, but seemingly took a sizeable step forward to come out on top this afternoon. There were five horses in line with 100m to travel and the prize was seemingly up for grabs. However, the Fabrice Chappet-trained son of Golden Horde struck the front shortly after for jockey Thomas Trullier before clinging on well in the closing stages to fend off a late challenge from Afogado.
City Town got off the mark at the third time of asking when taking out the Prix De La Placiere (two-year-old fillies maiden) at Deauville on Wednesday. Trained by multiple Group 1-winning handler Andreas Schütz, City Town had finished fifth on both outings to date, including when showing plenty of natural speed over 1600m at Chantilly last time. Dropping back to 1300m, she once again displayed sufficient early dash to work her way into a prominent position under Eddy Hardouin before striking the front on the approach to the 200m marker. Andre Fabre's Kohana did her best to close the deficit, but City Town had enough to fend off the challenge by half a length crossing the line.
