Casapueblo runner-up in G2 Grand Prix de Deauville

Casapueblo produced a career-best effort over a new trip as he finished second in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville on Saturday, 30 August. 

Stepping up to an extended 12 furlongs on his first Deauville appearance, the Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old raced freely before settling in fourth under Augustin Madamet, with stablemate Marquisat a close fifth on his outside. 

Casapueblo and Marquisat found themselves at the rear of the six runners when Sunway took closer order with nine furlongs to race, and the Godolphin duo still had the whole field to pass at the top of the straight. 

Sibayan swept into the lead over a furlong out, with Casapueblo and Marquisat moving up to press for second entering the final half-furlong. 

Casapueblo edged out New Ground to take the runner-up spot close home, finishing three lengths behind Sibayan. Marquisat kept on in fourth, a short-neck behind New Ground. 

Vertbois bounced back to form as he stayed on strongly to take third in the G3 Prix Quincey on the same card. 

The Night Of Thunder four-year-old was runner-up to Tribalist in May’s G2 Prix du Muguet but had failed to build on that effort in two subsequent G3 appearances at Chantilly. 

Held up in last of the 11 runners, Vertbois started to make good headway approaching the final quarter mile and quickened well after Cristian Demuro switched out the Andre Fabre-trained runner soon after. 

Vertbois briefly threatened for the lead half a furlong out but was outpaced by Dreamliner and Cicero’s Gift in the closing strides, going down by a length in total.