3 minute read
Charlie Fellowes will take the advice of Ryan Moore and try Group winner Grand Alliance over a staying distance for the first time in the 1m7f Prix Kergorlay at Deauville.
Part of the month-long Deauville Summer Meeting, the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay boasts a long history and has been won by some of the best French stayers. In recent years, the honour roll includes names such as Call The Wind, Protectionist, Skazino and Holdthasigreen. The race has also proven to be the best lead-up race for European contenders aiming to have a crack at Australia's feature Group One staying contest and was used as a stepping stone for Melbourne Cup winners Americain, Dunaden and Protectionist.
Grand Alliance has always shown glimpses of ability at the top level, finishing second behind Changingoftheguard in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022. He was a surprise winner on seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newmarket, but has failed to fire in two subsequent starts and was well-beaten when fourth of four in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes, ridden by Ryan Moore.
"Grand Alliance is a funny character and a lot of people said 'why did you run him on ground you knew was too quick?', but a lot of the time you don't learn about horses sitting at home," commented Charlie Fellowes.
"We had booked Ryan Moore, who is just an outstanding jockey, and I felt we'd learn more about the horse by running than we would staying at home.
"Ryan got off him and said 'this horse, in my opinion, is crying out for a step up in trip'. He said 'I don't think his attitude is a problem'. He's been called a lot of names in the past, but Ryan felt he really worked for him and he just said 'I could not go quick enough'.
"Ryan said 'step up to two miles and see what happens, yes it was good to firm, but in my opinion the ground wasn't a problem, the problem was the trip'.
"We've got an eye on the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, which is over a mile and seven furlongs and he should get a little bit of cut in the ground.
"That's the race I've got pencilled in at the moment and that should tell us whether we need to drop back to a mile and a half when the ground really does get soft or if we stay the trip over two miles, ridden patiently, maybe it opens up a few more doors.
"It's a little bit of a fact-finding mission and I still feel like we haven't quite worked the horse out, but it'll be interesting to try what Ryan says."
