Super sub Soumillon scores on Excelebration Christophe Soumillon, a late replacement for Ryan Moore, partnered Excelebration to victory at Deauville today. Moore had been stood down for the day following a fall two races earlier leaving Aidan O'Brien without a jockey for the Group One Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques Le Marois but connections were keen to snap up the services of the brilliant Belgian. The hotly contested mile contest saw Elusive Kate jump out in front with Cityscape for company but the fractions that Frankie Dettori set on the hat-trick seeking filly were far from strong. Several rivals were pulling for their heads in behind with Most Improved and Golden Lilac notably keen and the slow pace also led to some trouble in running as the field bunched up. When Dettori kicked from the front, it initially appeared as though he had Excelebration in trouble but the favourite dug deep as Soumillon got serious with him and was well on top at the line. The four year old was chased home by Cityscape who had failed to last out the 10 furlongs of the Eclipse on his only previous outing of the British turf season. Elusive Kate held on to third but there were hard luck stories with Moonlight Cloud flashing home to finish fourth, one place ahead of the remarkable Caspar Netscher. O'Brien was absent, but Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock said after speaking to Coolmore: "He is in the Moulin and the QEII and I think one or other, or both, is next on the horizon for him. He's in all the top mile races worldwide." Soumillon said: "It was a fantastic chance ride to get. I feel very sorry for Ryan as he was telling me before his fall that he thought the horse would win." Trainer Roger Charlton said of Cityscape: "We've been beaten by a plainly better horse today, but it was a brave effort and he galloped all the way to the line. "We can't be anything other than pleased, and now anything is possible. Ascot (Champions Day) would be a target, depending on what Frankel does. "If Frankel sticks to a mile and a quarter we would go for the QEII." His rider James Doyle said: "I was lucky enough to be able to ease him out from the rail and give him a bit of room. I couldn't fault the ground and the horse felt good." Alan McCabe tweeted of Caspar Netscher: "What an absolute superstar. Couldn't be happier with Caspar if he'd won - ran an absolute blinder. Deserves a Group 1. Soon." Meehan said of Most Improved: "Something has gone wrong, but he's jogged up sound afterwards. It will be interesting to see what the film reveals."
