True Love enters the Deauville track as the market favourite for the 2026 renewal of the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest, a race that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:40 p.m. The British‑trained filly, best known for her classic triumph in the 1000 Guineas, has already shown that she can handle the one‑mile distance with aplomb. Last month she was narrowly defeated in the Prix Jean Prat, a mile race at Deauville, where she was edged out by the Jersey Stakes winner Thesecretadversary. That performance, although a loss, underscored her speed and confirmed her ability to compete at the highest level against top‑class opposition.
True Love’s pedigree and racing record make her a compelling prospect for the Maurice de Gheest. She captured the Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs in September, demonstrating that she possesses both the raw sprinting speed and the stamina to stretch out to a mile. Her versatility is a valuable asset, especially as she transitions toward a future breeding career where a broad range of distance aptitude is highly prized. The filly will be partnered by Irish jockey Wayne Lordan, who replaces Ryan Moore for this French contest.
Lordan’s experience on the European circuit and his rapport with the trainer should give True Love a solid ride. Among the other contenders, Stolen Kiss has emerged as a serious challenger.
The colt was dropped back to sprint distances earlier in the season and responded with a marked improvement, beating last year’s winner Sajir on two successive occasions and delivering a near‑miss fourth place in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Although he will be carrying more weight than True Love, his recent form suggests he could still test the favourite, particularly under the guidance of trainer Alexis Pouchin. Wathnan Racing, fresh from a successful campaign at the Goodwood Festival, will be looking to add another win to its tally with the help of William Haggas’ son of Kingman, Division.
Division has been consistent this year, finishing second in the Sandy Lane Stakes and third in the Commonwealth Cup, both times behind Venetian Sun. A respectable fifth place in the July Cup further proves his class, and a win in the Maurice de Gheest would be a logical next step for a horse of his caliber.
Samangan is not to be dismissed either. After being narrowly beaten by Division and True Love in recent outings, the colt will need to improve his finishing kick to be a serious threat. Take Charge Star, representing veteran jockey Johnny Murtagh, also merits attention. He was only a neck behind Thesecretadversary – the horse that beat True Love in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot – indicating that he can match the top tier of the field.
A few other names round out the field. Distant Storm returns after a hiatus since May, having last run in the Group Three Prix Daphnis. While his recent form is unknown, a fresh run could see him make a surprise impact.
Meanwhile, the race preview also touched on a series of unrelated racing news items – from Thunder Call’s role in the Shergar Cup at Ascot to Kevin Doyle’s pursuit of Cheltenham glory – which, although interesting, do not directly affect the Maurice de Gheest. Charlie Appleby, a trainer in excellent form, has sent his son of Night Of Thunder to France in search of a first win since September. The colt placed third in the Dewhurst and started his three‑year‑old season with a third in the 2000 Guineas, showing that he can handle top‑level mile races.
His recent performances, combined with the fact that Thesecretadversary took the Jersey Stakes and Venetian Prince captured the Italian Derby, suggest that the overall quality of the field is high. Komorebi, who was second in the French 2000 Guineas before disappointing over longer distances in the Prix du Jockey Club, appears to be best suited to a mile again. If he can repeat his earlier mile form, he will be a strong contender. Campacite, who finished just behind Komorebi in the French Derby, also looks promising after a solid run on Hawk Mountain in his penultimate start.
Lord Clover, despite lacking a sharp turn of foot in the German 2000 Guineas, has shown enough French form to merit a look, while Crimson Road rounds out the card at Chepstow with a recent win in a handicap over the same distance and course. Having been raised three pounds after that victory, Crimson Road could be a factor if the race unfolds in a fast, front‑running style.
Finally, Pride Of Nepal, a Tony Carroll‑trained gelding, will carry top weight after a series of impressive wins earlier in the season, including a hat‑trick of victories at the same venue in June. Although the horse was disappointing at Epsom, the weight assignment and his proven ability over the course and distance may see him give a strong challenge to Crimson Road. In summary, the Prix Maurice de Gheest promises a thrilling contest between a classic‑winning filly in True Love and a field of accomplished sprinters and milers.
With Wayne Lordan aboard, True Love is well placed to defend her reputation and potentially add a Group One victory to her résumé, while the likes of Stolen Kiss, Division, and Take Charge Star provide ample competition. The race will be a key indicator of how the top milers of this generation stack up against each other and will set the stage for future campaigns, both on the track and in the breeding shed. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing, offering racing fans worldwide a chance to witness a high‑quality showdown at one of France’s most prestigious summer meetings.