Deauville mission for Star Safari in G3 Prix de Reux

Star Safari aims to build on a promising European return as he bids for a second G3 victory in the Prix de Reux over an extended mile and a half at Deauville, France, on Sunday, 8 August.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old battled gamely to take third, beaten less than three lengths in total, in the 12-furlong G2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, 8 July.

Star Safari (Frankie Dettori) started his year in fine form at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning a turf handicap and the 10-furlong G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, and was a creditable sixth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night.

Charlie Appleby said: “We were very pleased with Star Safari’s return from a break at Newmarket following some good efforts out in Dubai. He has to carry a penalty, which makes it slightly difficult with a horse like Mogul in the field, but he should be competitive.”

On the same card, Urgent Appeal (Mickael Barzalona) makes his first appearance at Deauville in the six-furlong Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud following six consecutive starts at Chantilly.

After comfortably winning the Listed Prix Montenica on the all-weather in March, the Andre Fabre-trained colt has finished fifth in two subsequent turf appearances over six furlongs, most recently in the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or in June.