Notepad: Prix Djebel

Deauville 8th April 2025

Group 3 for 3YOs ( French 2,000 Guineas Trial)

1. Maranoa Charlie

2. Silius

3. Woodshauna

Winning Time: 1:23.12

Maranoa Charlie had finished down the field in the Criterium at Saint-Cloud but the ground had probably gone against him by that stage. This was much more like the horse that won the Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud in October by 8-lengths. He broke well from the stalls here and was able to control the pace, running 11.29, 11.25 and 11.25s in the middle part of the race. A winning time of 1:23.12 is the fastest winning time in the Prix Djebel since 2017 (Al Wukair). Adding the hood appears to have helped him to settle, but despite setting some fast early fractions, he has found the stamina to settle the race in the final furlong when they have come to him, although his pace does drop by 4.5 km/h in the final 2-furlongs. Paris Longchamp would be a better place for this type of ride, but he will almost certainly be vulnerable at a mile if doing the same.

There are no sectional times available for Silius (2nd) who came into this race with form from Cagnes-Sur-Mer. Has had every chance here with the pace to track. Perhaps slightly inconvenienced by going to the centre of the course and racing alone but given the times, has had every chance to run down the winner if he was good enough.

Woodshauna (3rd) won a Listed race at Chantilly over 1,300m in March. Came from the pack in this race and had to work very hard to try and get on terms with the front 2. Has run the fastest final furlong in 12.04s, but I would suspect that is due to the fact that the winner is slowing down rather than any suggestion that he is a stronger stayer. He is a Wooded Colt, his Dam was a 7-furlong Listed horse and he may well be better suited by running over that trip, especially around a bend.

Arabie (Karl Burke) has finished 4th having been slightly bumped at the start. That wouldn’t be an excuse for an 8-length defeat, although this was his first start since finishing 4th in the Prix Morny in August. He shaped like a horse in need of the run and is probably better judged on his 2-year-old form than this, especially given how fast the ground was and how hard the leader went.

Rosapenna and Tiego the First raced away from the others on the stands side rail and were the first pair to come off the bridle. Neither could really get competitive.