American colt No Nay Never heads Prix Morny

Deauville is treated to a rare American visitor Sunday as No Nay Never bids

to back up his scintillating performance in Royal Ascot's Norfolk Stakes in the

Group 1 Prix Morny. Rated by Wesley Ward as the best that he has trained, the

Coolmore acquisition will be in the hands of David Flores as he attempts a rare

double.

"He went over to Deauville last Thursday, so he's had plenty of time to

acclimatize," Ward told PA Sport. "Since Ascot he's done a few serious breezes

and he looks like a rhino -- he's built like a tank. The thing is, he'll be

taking on some much nicer horses this weekend, the better horses come out later

on in the year as it progresses.

"Before the race at Ascot, I couldn't see him getting beaten looking around

the paddock, just his coat and everything -- he looked the best.

"The competition will be stiffer in France. I've been really happy with him

since then. He's a fantastic specimen to have anything to do with and he's a

pleasure to deal with."

Heading the home defense is the unbeaten filly Vorda, who had the re-opposing

Omaticaya and Vedeux back in second and third, respectively, in the Prix Robert

Papin at Maisons-Laffitte July 21. She commands respect, as does another filly

in Rizeena, who beat No Nay Never's stable companion Sweet Emma Rose in the

Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing runner-up under a penalty in

Newmarket's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes over six furlongs July 12.

"She's in very good form and I think the track will suit," trainer Clive

Brittain said. "Ryan (Moore) has been to sit on her twice at home and he's been

very happy with her. The ground should be ideal at Deauville and six furlongs

there should be perfect. We'll be looking at Group 1s from now on and the

obvious one after this would be the Cheveley Park at the end of the season."

One of Khalid Abdullah's greatest gifts to racing and breeding has been his

priceless producer Hasili, and her ongoing dynasty is represented at Deauville

Sunday by Romantica in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet. Out of one of that stellar

mare's finest performers in Banks Hill, the Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old

has been nurtured along to this point, as so many of the family's best have been

by the master of Chantilly.

Successful in the Prix de la Nonette at this meeting last term, the bay may

not have been ready for the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September and signed

off after an unplaced effort there. Back with a win in Chantilly's Prix Allez

France over 10 furlongs in April, she has enjoyed a freshener after finishing

third when attempting to give Grace Lady five pounds in the Prix Corrida over 1

5/16 miles at Saint-Cloud May 24.

Grace Lady has since been sixth in the Prix Rothschild over a mile at this

venue July 28, but is certain to be suited by this step back up in trip, while

Dalkala reverts in distance following her latest ninth in the Grand Prix de

Saint-Cloud. She had previously beaten the subsequent Pretty Polly Stakes winner

Ambivalent in York's Middleton Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs, and will be

attempting to draw the sting from her rivals here.

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