Ultra bids for Prix Guillaume d’Ornano

Ultra lines up against the first two home in the Prix du Jockey Club, Almanzor and Zarak, in a strong renewal of the 10-furlong G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, France, on Monday, August 15.
 
The Manduro colt, trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, made a good start to his three-year-old campaign when going down by three-quarters of a length to Heshem in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over the same distance at Maisons-Laffitte on July 17.

He ended last year as one of Europe’s top juveniles following an unbeaten season that culminated with a short-neck verdict over Cymric in the mile G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October.

As well as Almanzor and Zarak, the nine runners for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano also includes Heshem and recent Haydock Park G3 winner Royal Artillery.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Ultra has come on well since his last run. We still have one eye on the latter part of the season, so he is being brought along with that in mind rather than this race being his main objective.

“It is a very tough contest and a G1 in all but name. This is another stepping stone towards his autumn campaign but we hope that he can start to confirm the promise he showed last year.”