Prix Texanita return for Beau Ideal

Beau Ideal, successful in two of his three races last year, makes his seasonal debut in the G3 Prix Texanita over five and a half furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte, France, on Wednesday, 9 May.

The three-year-old Exceed And Excel colt, trained by Andre Fabre, enjoyed a winning debut at Deauville in July over six furlongs.

He then failed by a neck to follow up in a Listed race over an extra half-furlong at Maisons-Laffitte in September before winning another Listed event, the five-furlong Criterium de Vitesse, by a nose at Chantilly in October.

Beau Ideal, with Mickael Barzalona in the saddle and drawn five of the 11 runners, takes on six-furlong G3 Prix Sigy second, third and fourth – Alistair, Absolute City and Forza Capitano – plus British raider Corinthia Knight.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Beau Ideal has done very well from two to three.

“But this is his seasonal comeback and he had little setback, nothing serious, in February so he is likely to need the run.

“He should like the ground if as expected it remains on the fast side.”