HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and jockey Frankie Dettori lead in Al Shaqab Racing’s Shalaa after the colt’s decisive victory in the Prix Morny at Deauville on Saturday. Shalaa won ahead of Gutaifan, also owned by Al Shaqab Racing.

By Chris Corrigan/The Guardian

Frankie Dettori opened a barn door in betting markets when describing Al Shaqab Racing’s Shalaa as “the best two-year-old I’ve sat on in my life” after the colt’s decisive victory in the Prix Morny at Deauville on Saturday.
The Italian made his remarks to Equidia, a French television racing channel, shortly after the Group One contest. Perhaps aware people might feel he was getting carried away, the Italian added: “I am not exaggerating.”
Dettori seemed to tone down his view a little when telling the Racing Post: “I didn’t want to say before he had won a Group One but he is possibly the best two-year-old I’ve ridden.”
But by that stage it was too late to stop the bookmakers becoming excitable over the Qatari-owned horse. Paddy Power slashed Shalaa’s odds for next year’s 2,000 Guineas from 20-1 to 10-1. Other firms cut his price to 12-1.
John Gosden, the colt’s trainer, failed to confirm any plans for the one-mile Classic, however. “He has done it very well, he is very fast and he’s beat Gutaifan (also owned by Al Shaqab Racing), a good horse, in second,” Gosden said. “We will look towards the Middle Park. No curveballs, just the Middle Park, that will do us.”
The Middle Park Stakes, at Newmarket in late September, is – like the Prix Morny – over six furlongs and Gosden had previously hinted that his charge would stay at sprint distances in 2015, with Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup being a major target.
Later on the Deauville card Karl Burke’s Odeliz sprung a surprise when making every yard of the running to win the Prix Jean Romanet. Up against last year’s winner, Ribbons, David Simcock’s Ascot winner Madame Chiang and a host of top-class French fillies such as We Are, Avenir Certain and Bawina, the five-year-old mare made all the running.
Burke said: “Canada [EP Taylor Stakes] was the original plan as she was just touched off in it last year but she’ll be entered in the Prix de l’Opera and at Ascot on Champions day now, too. All options are open.”
British trainers were denied a clean sweep of the major races when Mark Johnston’s Oriental Fox was worn down close home by Alex My Boy in the Prix Kergorlay.
At The Curragh on Sunday, Jim Bolger’s Herald The Dawn won the Futurity Stakes, emulating his sire New Approach.
A full-brother to the 2013 2,000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach, Herald The Dawn won by a length and a quarter.
Aidan O’Brien won the other two Group races at The Curragh. Found earned a possible tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after beating two rivals in the Royal Whip Stakes. Stablemate Ol’ Man River was withdrawn following heavy rain.
O’Brien said: “That is the first time Found has run beyond a mile, and we always felt she was crying out for it. The plan was always to keep her to a mile until Ascot, and then give her a break. She could run in the Prix Vermeille or the Irish Champion Stakes next before a possible run in the Arc.”
Order Of St George, a son of Galileo, elevated his credentials for the St Leger with a fine win in the Irish St Leger Trial Stakes.