Makfi stuns rivals in Prix Jacques Le Marois
It was billed as a two horse race – what followed left the script-writers scurrying for their eraser pens.
Golidkova, the heroine of French racing, was searching for her 11th Group One victory in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Roared on by her huge following the only possible threat to her, apparently, was the Richard Hannon trained Paco Boy, who had got within a neck of the superstar filly in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.
As expected, the two class horses in the field pulled well clear two furlongs from home, but sandwiched in between them was Makfi, the forgotten horse, who had shot to fame earlier in the season by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. His recent flop, finishing four and quarter lengths behind Canford Cliffs in the St James Palace Stakes, arguably labelled him with the tag of a one hit wonder.
But everything fell into place on Makfi’s return to France – the ground was classified as very soft and the fast pace of the race suited the son of Dubawi - he eyeballed both his more fancied rivals at the furlong pole and quickened away impressively to leave his jockey Christophe Soumillon blowing kisses to the crowd at the winning post.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles, whose colt can now be confidently labelled as one of the best milers in Europe, was delighted with the way Makfi bounced back after his poor run at Ascot.
"I was of course disappointed after Ascot," Delzangles told the Racing Post.
"But afterwards we found he was sick so there was a reason. He has proved today that he is the top miler we know he is. He did act on this ground better than the others, but the state of the ground is not important to him, he can go on any."
Soumillon, as extroverted as ever, exclaimed the margin of victory didn’t do the horse justice. “We were travelling easy throughout,” he told the Racing Post.
“He did everything I asked him to do, and won very easily. I just gave him a couple of smacks. If I had started my challenge two furlongs out I would have won by eight lengths. This colt is the new Sea The Stars.”
Makfi’s beaten rivals both told the Racing Post that conditions were to blame for the defeat. Freddie Head, trainer of Goldikova said: “We were beaten by a better horse on the day and under the conditions." Whilst Richard Hughes, the jockey aboard Paco Boy revealed: “He just died in the last 50 yards. It was the first time he had run over a mile on soft ground.”
Next up for Makfi looks to be a showdown with Canford Cliffs, which will be one to relish, and may come in next month's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
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