Inspiral roars back to land Prix Jacques le Marois

Brilliant filly shines under Dettori in Deauville showpiece.

Inspiral and Frankie Dettori bounced back to winning ways with a fine performance in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

The daughter of Frankel was the undoubted star juvenile filly of last season, winning each of her four starts, but missed the early part of the current campaign after reportedly being slow to come to hand.

And while she looked better than ever when trouncing her rivals on her belated return in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, John and Thady Gosden’s charge suffered a shock defeat when the 1-7 favourite to follow up in the Falmouth at Newmarket last month, meaning she headed for France with a point to prove.

Settled in midfield for much of the way while the Irish pair of Order Of Australia and State Of Rest forced the pace along with Japan’s Bathrat Leon, 7-4 chance Inspiral had to be niggled along to make inroads but did respond to Dettori’s urgings to grab the lead.

Jean-Claude Rouget’s previously unbeaten colt Erevann and the David Simcock-trained Light Infantry proved her most persistent challengers as the post loomed, but Inspiral stuck to her task to see off the former and claim her third Group One victory.

The disappointment of the race was undoubtedly Coroebus. Having been last early on, William Buick looked to be delivering the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner with a serious challenge a furlong down, but his effort petered out and he was ultimately well held in fifth place.

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