Dante winner has not been since brilliant victory at York in May.
Economics and Jayarebe Set to Clash in High-Stakes Showdown at Deauville
A thrilling midweek clash is set to unfold at Deauville as the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano promises a captivating face-off between Dante Stakes winner Economics and Royal Ascot hero Jayarebe. The race, scheduled for Thursday, has all the makings of a memorable showdown, with some of the finest three-year-olds in Europe ready to battle for supremacy.
Economics, trained by the renowned William Haggas, was last seen making a statement with a commanding six-length victory in York's Derby trial back in May. However, despite his success, the decision was made to bypass the Derby at Epsom, with connections opting instead for a mid-season break. This strategic move now sees the Night Of Thunder colt crossing the Channel for a second crack at Group Two glory.
⚡️A MONSTER performance! ⚡️
Economics absolutely bolts up in the Group 2 @ABE_Dubai Dante Stakes but he's no longer in the Derby so will not be Epsom bound.@WilliamHaggas has a potential top-notcher on his hands.@yorkracecourse | @TomMarquand pic.twitter.com/jRWV8ZX1k4
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 16, 2024
William Haggas has expressed confidence in Economics' condition ahead of the Deauville race. "He's fine and is on his way to Deauville as we speak," Haggas shared with Sky Sports Racing. "We considered the York Stakes at the end of July, but he wasn't quite ready for that. So, it was either this or the Juddmonte, and we preferred to take on the three-year-olds."
While Economics has shown immense promise, with only three races under his belt, Haggas remains cautious. "He's still relatively inexperienced," he noted. "As promising as he might look, the Juddmonte could have been a tough challenge for him first time out after a break. He's a pretty nice horse, and I haven't been overanalyzing how good he is because that's not how we operate. But he's fit, and I'm very much looking forward to getting him back on track—I can't wait."
As the race approaches, Economics is poised to make his mark, with entries in prestigious races like the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot. However, Haggas is focusing solely on the upcoming race at Deauville, saying, "I tend not to predict what's next. I want to get this first hurdle out of the way, but he's in every significant race at a mile and a quarter you can think of, and if he's good enough, we'll aim for one of those."
Economics' performance in the Dante left some concerned after he returned to the winner's enclosure with blood in his nose, sparking fears of burst blood vessels. Haggas, however, has reassured that the issue was due to the colt banging his head on the starting stalls. "We think that's what happened, but we take no chances with him. We've had a few issues in the spring, but he's absolutely fine now. We scope him after every workout, and we haven't seen a trace of blood, so that doesn't worry us anymore."
One potential challenge for Economics at Deauville could be the ground conditions. "What concerns me personally is how tight the ground might be for him," Haggas admitted. "He's a great big horse, and it's going to be quick ground, but he needs to run, so we’ll have to get on with it. He's a beautiful-looking horse, and everything he's done so far has pleased us. He had a gallop at Newmarket about 10 days ago, and he looked really good, so I'm really happy with him."
" brilliantly to take The Hampton Court Stakes for trainer, Brian Meehan. Hats off to jockey Sean Levey, and owner, Mr Iraj Parvisa. #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/fm74lObL0X
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2024
Economics will face stiff competition from Jayarebe, who kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a victory in Newmarket's Feilden Stakes. However, after being beaten into third place as the hot favorite for the Dee Stakes at Chester, the pressure is on for a strong performance.
The field for the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano also includes a third British raider, Almaqam, trained by Ed Walker. Almaqam impressed earlier in the season, notably in Sandown's Heron Stakes, but has since struggled in the St James's Palace Stakes. He now steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time, hoping to regain his winning form.
Meanwhile, the French contingent will be led by Bright Picture, who has won four of his five starts under the guidance of Andre Fabre. His only defeat came in the spring, but he bounced back with a decisive victory in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud.
The stage is set for a gripping contest at Deauville, where rising stars will clash in a race that could define their careers.
