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It was a thrilling end to the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday as the photo finish determined the French hopeful King Gold the winner by the narrowest of margins.
With six victories from the previous ten renewals, it was expected that the U.K. challengers would be able to put on a good show yet it was Nicolas Caullery's King Gold that dug deep in a nail biting finish to beat Karl Burke's Spycatcher.
The leading hope of the French, King Gold won the Group 3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp in late June. The contest is the traditional French trial race for the Group Maurice de Gheest with horses including Marchand D'Or, Moonlight Cloud and Marianafoot using it as a stepping stone before contesting and winning the Group One.
Spycatcher, ridden by Maxime Guyon, attempted to kick clear for home in the final furlong but King Gold came out of the pack under a determined ride from Stephane Pasquier. The pair went nose to nose in the final half a furlong, with King Gold denying Spycatcher by a whisker in a photo finish. Archie Watson's Saint Lawrence, having his second run for the yard after winning the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot, stayed on well for third.
The victory marked a first Group 1 success for trainer Nicolas Caullery. In a post race interview with Sky Sports Racing, he said: "It's a beautiful moment – it's unbelievable. The owner is also the breeder and it's a magic day.
"He started [the year] in Dubai and ran well in Dubai. When he came back to France he won a handicap and a Group Three and now a Group One, it's fabulous.
"He can do a lot of things, six or seven furlongs. He's a strong horse with a great mind.
"Life is too short, you have to enjoy every day and we do."
Harry Herbert, manager of the Highclere Racing Club who own Spycatcher said: "Maxime [Guyon] said he was in front just before the line and after the line.
"He's run an absolutely fantastic race. It's extraordinary what Karl and his team have done. The vet said last year we should retire him and he's not only come back but he's come back to within a fraction of winning a Group One.
"It's disappointing not to win, but at the same time we're so thankful he's doing what he's doing, and on the right ground and the right conditions he's pretty special."
