The field for the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest has been announced and Alverta will be departing England for France at 11pm tonight (2pm Friday English time). Alverta will strive to be the first Australian filly to win a Group 1 at Deauville and looking at the field she has a difficult task ahead of her. Amongst the probable starters are horses from England, Germany and France. The field of 15 includes four Group 1 winners, five Group 2 winners and three Group 3 winners. Alverta will have to be on form to run down these serious international contenders.

To our disadvantage it has been raining and the track at Deauville is looking like it will be soft. She will be carrying 56.5kg (top weight is 58kg)and will have Tye Angland accompanying her again. On a postive note, if Alverta repeats her performance from the July Cup she is certainly capable of winning the race. The last Australian horse to win a Group 1 France was the great Strawberry Road in 1985 at St Clouds. Our own Starcraft, although a New Zealand bred, also won a Group 1 at Longchamp in 2005.

The race will be televised live on Sky 3 (you will need to upgrade your subscription if you only have the one Sky Racing Channel) at 11.40pm on Sunday night.

This is the link for the Prix Maurice de Gheest:

http://www2.france-galop.com/FGWeb/domaines/courses/courses_calendrier.aspx?L=en

AM