ROYAL Ascot hero Palace Pier will put his unbeaten record on the line in a red-hot Prix Jacques le Marois next weekend.
The St James’s Palace winner has not been seen since the Royal Meeting and could face a host of well-known faces at Deauville.
Andrew Balding’s Kameko and Marcus Tregoning’s Mohaather could both be France-bound, as could Irish pair Circus Maximus and Alpine Star.
Trainer John Gosden is hopeful his Kingman colt can make it five wins on the trot, with Deauville set to suit his star.
Gosden said: “Palace Pier worked well on Saturday and is looking at the Jacques le Marois, which I said he would go for right after he won the St James’s Palace Stakes.
“He is a young horse that is only three and he has only run four times in his life, so to that extent he is a progressive horse.
“Every time you go into these Group Ones it is hard and this time he is taking on older horses, not just three-year-olds.
“He ran great at Ascot and I just think the straight mile at Deauville will really suit him.”
Though happy to continue campaigning Palace Pier over a mile for the time being, the Newmarket handler is confident he will get further.
He added: “We are happy keeping him at a mile, but he will get a mile and a quarter in time.
“You could see that by the way he finished his race at Ascot.”
