Audarya springs Romanet surprise at Deauville

Horse Racing

James Fanshawe’s charge lands Group One prize.

James Fanshawe’s Audarya caused a huge shock in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

While Newmarket-based Fanshawe had won the race twice recently with Ribbons (2014) and Speedy Boarding (2016), Audarya looked to have plenty to find with the main protagonists.

Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, she travelled sweetly into contention before hitting the front a furlong out in the mile-and-a-quarter heat.

Close home it only concerned two fillies with Ambition the only serious rival to Audarya, but Mendizabal only needed to give his mount a couple of flicks with the whip to keep her up to her work and she responded willingly, with the pair coming well clear.

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John Gosden’s Nazeef, winner of the Falmouth Stakes and the mount of Frankie Dettori, was well fancied, but she failed to shine on testing ground and was well beaten.

Audarya was last seen winning a handicap on the all-weather at Newcastle, triumphing off a mark of 99.

Mendizabal told Sky Sports Racing: “Before the race I spoke to the trainer and he asked me to get a good position, but more importantly to get her to relax.

“He said if she didn’t relax she wouldn’t finish, as it was a very good race.

“She won easy. The trainer wasn’t sure about the ground, he felt she’d prefer good ground so I’m not sure how she won like that.

“It’s a nice story that Francois Doumen bred her, as I know him very well.”

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James Fanshawe Audayra Prix Jean Romanet

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