Lethal Force, a possible Melbourne spring carnival starter, will face 13 rivals as he bids for a Group One hat-trick in Sunday’s Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
Clive Cox’s four-year-old has really come of age this season, stepping up on his narrow second in the Duke of York Stakes in May to land clear-cut victories in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.
His 1-1/2 length defeat of Society Rock at Headquarters last month confirmed his position at the top of the European sprinting tree but he steps up to six-and-a-half furlongs this time.
However, having won the seven-furlong Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last year, Cox is confident the minor jump up in trip is far from a negative.
“I’m very happy with him, he’s been in excellent form since the July Cup,” he said.
“Obviously this is six-and-a-half furlongs this time but we are pleased to move in that direction with him as he has won over seven in the Hungerford.
“I hope the ground continues to dry at Deauville. At the moment there’s a forecast for the possibility of thunder but then a dry forecast through to Sunday.
“If the forecast is correct, the ground should suit him and I hope it will as that’s why we’re going there.”
The Freddie Head-trained Moonlight Cloud has won the race for the last two seasons and Cox rates her as a major rival after a recent victorious comeback at Longchamp.
Racing Victoria’s international racing agent Leigh Jordon has been in talks with Lethal Force’s owner Alan Craddock and Cox.
“It would be great for an English sprinter to come down. He’s a serious horse,” Jordon told www.racingvictoria.net.au.
