TOUGH TEST FOR GOLDI IN MAROIS

Goldikova's team are praying the rain stays away from Deauville as she attempts to win her 15th Group One race in a cracking renewal of the Prix Jacques le Marois on Monday.

Freddie Head's amazing mare beat the colts in the 2009 renewal of this race but was toppled by last year's 2000 Guineas winner Makfi in the corresponding event 12 months ago. However, she showed when winning the Prix Rothschild for the fourth time that she is as good as ever.

"We just hope the ground stays good enough and doesn't get too heavy as we have had some rain. I think she's as good as ever. There are lots of Group One winners in there so it is exciting," said Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to Goldikova's owners, the Wertheimer brothers.

"There's is Andre Fabre's Mutual Trust, who is unbeaten. I think you have to be wary of Planteur coming back to a mile, and Immortal Verse was very impressive in the Coronation Stakes, so there are five or six Group One winners to be beaten.

"You don't win a Group One without being a good horse and this is a very strong field. She doesn't have just one horse to beat so she will need to be at her best."

Confidence is high in the Richard Hannon camp ahead of Dick Turpin's appearance.

"We all have a lot of respect for Goldikova, but Canford Cliffs beat her at Royal Ascot and now we hope Dick Turpin can do likewise," Richard Hannon jnr told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"They had 7mm of rain at Deauville on Saturday night and, while the forecast is for conditions to improve, hopefully there will be enough cut in the ground for our fellow to do himself justice.

"It was great to see Dick's confidence come flooding back at Ascot when he won the Summer Mile very comfortably, and Richard Hughes was really impressed when he rode him in a gallop on Thursday. It was the first time he had sat on the horse for six weeks, and he said he felt like his old self.

"Remember, Dick Turpin ran Goldikova to a length in last year's Prix de la Foret and while we were a long way behind her in the Prix d'Ispahan earlier this season, the ground had dried up and we should not have run him, especially so soon after the Lockinge. He is flying again now, and we are very hopeful."

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