New Bay confirms Arc claims New Bay consolidated his position in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe market with a comprehensive if not spectacular success in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. The Prix du Jockey Club winner had pleased trainer Andre Fabre in his prep work on the main track at the seaside venue and after tracking his pacemaker Countermeasure until two furlongs out he then made the best of his way home under Vincent Cheminaud. Dariyan tried to cover the move and looked dangerous in the hands of Christophe Soumillon, but despite drifting right towards the far rail in the final 250 metres, New Bay asserted again when straightened up, scoring with something in hand. Deauville had received a near deluge of rain overnight, but the Khalid Abdullah-owned winner looked completely happy in the conditions. The only disappointing aspect for Fabre was that his third runner, Ampere, failed to test New Bay. Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe indicated New Bay may have a short break and come back for his Arc trial in the Prix Niel at Longchamp on September 13. He said: "Let's see how he is, but I would think he might have one more race before the Arc in the Prix Niel. The horse showed good acceleration today and his drift in the closing stages is probably part of the learning process. "Vincent said he handled the ground without any problem." New Bay has ticked every box this year, but is by Dubawi, lending one line of thought that he might not stay the Arc distance of a mile and a half. Asked about that, Grimthorpe added: "He's out of a mare by Zamindar with a lot of stamina on the dam's side, but he's by Dubawi and it isn't certain he will stay. "Today's race was good experience for him remembering that he had two quite hard races in the spring and early summer. "I think he will carry on improving and will handle ground with soft in it at Longchamp. But if they had a deluge before the Arc it would be in the lap of the gods whether he got the trip."
