Inspiral (Frankel) and Frankie Dettori were the stars of the show at Deauville on Sunday as they plundered France’s premier mile contest, the Gr.1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Restrained to sit off a strong early pace, Inspiral travelled powerfully to the head of affairs over two furlongs out. She kicked into a clear lead entering the closing stages and then showed excellent resolve in the final furlong to repel challengers on both sides. This was Inspiral’s sixth win from seven starts and signalled a return to form after losing her unbeaten tag in the Falmouth Stakes last time out. John Gosden stated after the race that the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day could be her next target.
This was the fourth victory in the race for John & Thady Gosden, adding to the triumphs of Kingman (2014) and Palace Pier (2020 & 2021). Inspiral is the fourth three-year-old filly to win this prestigious contest this century, joining Six Perfections (2003), Immortal Verse (2011) and Alpha Centauri (2018). For Frankie Dettori, this was a record seventh success in this event.
Inspiral is a homebred daughter of Starscope (Selkirk), who placed second in both the Gr.1 1000 Guineas and the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes for John Gosden in 2012. Starscope has a yearling colt by Siyouni, a colt foal by Ulysses and is back in foal to Frankel.