Fabre enjoys Marois one-two

Andre Fabre enjoyed a one-two in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville as Esoterique beat the favourite Territories.

The soft going ensured Gleneagles skipped the Group 1 contest over a mile in favour of the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, but the Classic generation was represented by Territories, Belardo and Estidhkaar, who have all finished behind the 2000 Guineas winner this season.

Territories and Belardo were both in the Godolphin colours, but it was another runner in the royal blue silks – Toormore – who set the pace.

Estidhkaar raced on his quarters, with Belardo sitting in third as stablemates Territories and Esoterique were held up towards the rear.

Heading inside the two-furlong marker, Estidhkaar took over from the fellow Richard Hannon-trained colt Toormore as Territories started to launch his bid down the far side.

However, Pierre-Charles Boudot brought Esoterique through the field after she had travelled supremely well and she quickly took the race by the scruff of the neck.

Esoterique, who was second behind Muhaarar in the Prix Maurice de Gheest a week ago and won the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at the Deauville festival last year, was always holding Territories on the run to the line.

Lightning Spear continued his progressive profile by staying on well for fourth and was just denied third place by the German runner Wild Chief.

Fabre had to settle for minor honours in the Group 3 Prix Minerve as Candarliya completed a four-timer for trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre.

Shahah set only a moderate pace in the mile-and-a-half contest as the likes of Entertainment and Yaazy both struggled to settle through the early stages.

The fancied runners in the race came to the fore inside the final two furlongs as Candarliya stuck on well to beat fellow joint-favourite Yaazy, with Fabre’s Al Naamah third ahead of stablemate Shahah.