The tracking analysis of the 160th Deauville Barrière meeting
Every summer, Deauville becomes the epicenter of the horse racing world as it hosts its prestigious summer meeting. From July 28 to August 25, 2024, Europe’s finest thoroughbreds and jockeys competed on the legendary tracks of the Deauville- La Touques racecourse. Here’s a look back at a month of intense competition organized by France Galop, marked by unforgettable performances and the rise of future stars.
The Summer Meeting: A Must-Attend Event
The Deauville meeting took place from July 28 to August 25, 2024, with 16 race days scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. This event is one of the most anticipated of the year, drawing approximately 1,700 horses and over a hundred jockeys from across Europe to compete in the summer’s top races. This edition was particularly special as it marked the 160th anniversary of the Deauville-La Touques racecourse, one of France’s oldest and most prestigious, inaugurated in 1864 under the direction of the Duke of Morny.
High-Caliber Races
Several Group 1 races, the highest level of competition in horse racing, highlighted this meeting, each bringing its share of surprises and stellar performances. On July 28, the Prix des 160 ans de l’hippodrome de Deauville kicked off the festivities with a memorable victory by Ultrafragola, ridden by Christophe Soumillon. This conditions race symbolically honored the racecourse’s long history. Jean-Claude Rouget’s trainee took the lead from the start and maintained a strong finish to win ahead of Bella India, trained by Tim Donworth. On the same day, the Group 1 Prix Rothschild, reserved for fillies and mares aged three and older, saw Mqse de Sévigné shine with an impressive burst of speed, clocking 43,61 mph on good to soft ground. After running fifth for most of the race, André Fabre’s charge (currently leading the trainers’ standings in France) accelerated in the final stretch to claim victory—her fifth in a Group 1 race. A defending champion, Alexis Pouchin’s mount improved on last year’s performance, where she was clocked at “only” 41,21 mph, completing the course in 1:35.50, compared to 1:35.25 this year on similar ground.
In a race where the pace varied between 41 and 43,5 mph, she recorded the best times in the last two segments: 400m-200m and 200m-finish. The best 600m-400m split went to Ribaltagia (12.32 seconds), followed by Excellent Truth (12.39 seconds), who finished fifth and second, respectively. A slight disappointment in this race was Blue Rose Cen. Having joined Maurizio Guarnieri’s stables in early 2024, she finished last, seventh place. The filly, who had won the prestigious Prix de Diane Longines and Prix de l’Opéra Longines in 2023, crossed the finish line 28 seconds behind the Prix Rothschild winner. Despite a decent start, placing
fifth early on, Blue Rose Cen failed to deliver her expected acceleration, posting the slowest times in the 800m-600m and
400m-200m segments.
A 100% French Podium in the Prix Maurice de Gheest
On August 4th, the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr.1) crowned Lazzat, a three-year-old gelding, the only unbeaten horse at the start of the race. His outstanding performance confirmed his status as the favorite and earned him his first Group I victory, hinting at a promising future. “He’s a machine. He constantly pushes his limits,” said his trainer, Jérôme Reynier, to Equidia after the race—words that bode well for what lies ahead. A three-year-old that could be described as “extraordinary,” he decisively outpaced his competitors to win the race. Notably, Lazzat covered a total of 1,302.19 meters during the race, making him the horse that traveled the longest distance in this event. Quickly taking the lead, he seized command of the race in the last 300 meters after making his move. His time over the 400m-200m split was 11.24 seconds, and between the 200-meter mark and the finish line, he managed to maintain his effort, covering the remaining distance in 12.14 seconds. Not worn out by the 1,300 meters of the race, he accelerated one last time in the final 50 meters and crossed the finish line three lengths ahead of Exxtra and Beauvatier, both of whom also delivered excellent performances. August 11: Charyn’s Dominance in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) On August 11, the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) solidified Charyn’s status as the best older horse over a mile in Europe. After a fierce battle, Charyn overpowered his rivals, winning by an impressive three lengths. Owned by Kazakh businessman Nurlan Bizakov, Charyn entered the race as the favorite following his victory in the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group 1 race across the Channel, and he confirmed his top form on French soil. Metropolitan broke well and led early, holding on for a commendable second place behind the unbeatable Charyn. Big Rock, the runner-up to the great Ace Impact in the 2023 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, took the lead early but was challenged by Charyn in the final 600 meters. Despite Big Rock’s attempts to reaccelerate, it wasn’t enough to fend off Charyn’s powerful attack. Charyn showcased his class, finding another gear at the 200-meter mark to pull away and win comfortably by three lengths. Big Rock, who weakened in the final section, ultimately finished fifth, but only behind top-tier competitors like Inspiral, the defending champion. Inspiral, who had a poor start and found herself at the back of the pack, made a tremendous effort in the last 500 meters. She charged down the outside, demonstrating her brilliance to secure third place.
Future Stars and Surprises
The 2024 edition of the Deauville meeting also highlighted the emergence of promising young talents. On August 18, Mqse de Sévigné once again delivered a standout performance, winning the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr.1) with a blistering acceleration in the final stages, narrowly edging out American Sonja. Her performance marks her as a filly to watch closely in the future. That same day, the Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr.1) crowned Whistlejacket, a two-year-old from Ireland, who dominated the race despite a strong showing from the French contender Daylight, who finished third. This young champion showed impressive consistency, confirming his potential for future high-stakes events. Another notable performance came from Ramadan on August 4, in a Group III race where he displayed promising qualities. The son of the excellent sire Le Havre and Raushan (Dalakhani), Ramadan also races in the colors of Nurlan Bizakov. Starting in second, he was among the leaders throughout the Prix Daphnis – Fonds Européen de l’Élevage – Prix Famille Steinbruch. With a race time of 1:42.79 and an average speed of 36,29 mph, he dominated the 400m-200m and 200m-finish segments while maintaining second place in the four other segments behind his eventual runner-up, Ghorgan. Although not the fastest in the race, with a top speed of 40,41 mph, his stamina and consistency secured his victory over Supercooled, who was clocked at a maximum of 40,74 mph and had to settle for third place just ahead of Elbaz. Elbaz, who started seventh and was ridden by Cristian Demuro, finished just off the podium after a strong finish, making him a horse to watch going forward.
Jockey Standouts
On the jockeys side, the 2024 Deauville meeting was a triumph for Mickaël Barzalona, Maxime Guyon, and Alexis Pouchin, who claimed the top three spots on the jockeys leaderboard. With a blend of remarkable achievements from established stars and the rise of new talents, the 2024 Deauville meeting once again confirmed itself as a must-attend event on the racing calendar.
Chloé Humbert
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Photo credit : Scoop Dyga