A tricky card at Deauville today, but I like the look of a big outsider in a division of the 1m1.5f handicap (2.00pm).
This is a desperately weak race, as you would expect given the top weight is rated 18.5 (41UK). However, that top weight, Pietra Serena, is one of the less exposed in the field, after just 14 starts, and passed the post in front at Ploermel in September, only to have the race taken off her for having cut off a section of the home bend! However, I think she would have won anyway, and that performance would be enough to go very close here.
Her yard is in really good form, with four winners already this month, while the booking of Rosario Mangione, who did us a favour when winning on a Race Sharp tip earlier this week, is a very positive one. Pietra Serena has been ridden by an apprentice on her last three starts, so Mangione is a big plus and has a good record when riding for Stephane Gouyette.
She showed plenty of promise on both previous handicap starts on the All-Weather, both at Pornichet last December/January, finishing fourth off 24 on the first occasion. Both times, she had a horrible trip, racing wide throughout, and she showed more than enough to suggest she can win off this sort of mark.
2.00pm Deauville – 1.5pt win, 0.5pt place Pietra Serena @ 25-1 (various)
