Economics wins on return to action in Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville

The 10-furlong Group 2 at Deauville was preferred as a restarting point for the subsequently absent impressive Dante winner over a step straight into Group 1 company against Derby winner City Of Troy et al at York, and Newmarket trainer William Haggas will be delighted with what he saw from the son of Night Of Thunder.

Ridden by Tom Marquand, the even-money favourite Economics, who was given a Timeform rating of 121p after a stunning six-length victory over Charlie Appleby's Ancient Wisdom on the Knavesmire in mid-May, showed no ill-effects of the extended layoff and powered home to beat Jayarebe who appeared to get first run.

Economics was held up near the back of the seven-runner field as pace-setter Safwan set a strong gallop and was asked to close up after Sean Levey stole a march on Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe.

Brian Meehan's ace stuck to his guns and came nicely clear of fellow British raider Almaqam in third, but Economics collared him with around half a furlong to go and went on to score by a couple of lengths.

The Prix Guillaume d’Ornano has a rich roll of honour in recent seasons and was won last year by Ace Impact, who went on to Arc de Triomphe glory later in the season. Mishriff took top spot for John Gosden in 2020, while the following year Haggas sent subsequent Group 1 star Dubai Honour to land the spoils under Maxime Guyon.

Paddy Power were quick to cut Economics to 5/1 favourite (from 7/1) for the QIPCO British Champion Stakes, 4/1 from 7/1 for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and 10/1 (from 16s) for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Haggas confirmed it would be the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14 next, and that had been a determining factor in going to France.

The Newmarket handler said: “It was good to see him do it again. Watching it live it looked like he had to come from a fair way back and the second had got a run on him.

“His next possible target is the Irish Champion. That has got to be the target now.

“It is sponsored by Sheikh Isa’s (owner) family and it is a very important race for them. That is one of the reasons we ran him a week earlier than the Juddmonte. The Juddmonte to the Irish Champion is close enough.

“The plan is for him to remain in training next year, so those options (a mile and a half) are all open next year.

“It was something of a relief to see him do that again because you put your head on the block waiting and if you see the horse he’s a great big immature thing still, he’s just got an engine.

“If we look after him, he’ll repay us – that’s my logic.”

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