True Love leads the betting markets for the 2026 edition of the Prix Maurice de Gheerr, a Group One contest that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:40 p.m. The feature segment on Sky Sports Racing this afternoon transports viewers to the historic French seaside resort of Deauville, where the celebrated filly will take centre stage in the prestigious sprint over 1300 metres. The 1000 Guineas champion was narrowly beaten in her most recent start, the Prix Jean Prat over a mile at Deauville last month.
In that race, the Jersey Stakes winner Thesecretadversary edged her home, demonstrating the fine margins that separate the elite milers. True Love’s previous triumph in the Cheveley Park Stakes over the same distance in September confirms that she possesses the raw speed required for the Maurice de Gheest, and her proven versatility should serve her well when she eventually retires to become a broodmare. Irish jockey Wayne Lordan will take the reins for the French venture, stepping in for Ryan Moore, who is unavailable for the event. Another contender worth watching is Stolen Kiss, a colt who has blossomed after being switched back to sprint distances earlier in the season.
His resurgence has been dramatic: he has defeated last year’s winner Sajir in two successive outings and produced a very tight fourth‑place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot. Although he will be conceding weight to True Love, Stolen Kiss could still challenge the favourite if he reproduces his best form under the guidance of French trainer Alexis Pouchin. Wathnan Racing, fresh from a successful campaign at the Goodwood Festival, will be eager to add another prize to their tally. Their entry is a son of Kingman trained by William Haggas, known simply as Division.
Division has been close but not quite victorious this year, taking second in the Sandy Lane Stakes and third in the Commonwealth Cup, on both occasions finishing behind the powerful Venetian Sun. He also produced a respectable fifth in the July Cup, suggesting that a step up to the 1300‑metre distance at Deauville could be the perfect opportunity for him to break his winless streak.
Samangan is not to be dismissed, but the horse will need to improve after being beaten in recent outings by Division and True Love, albeit by only narrow margins. Meanwhile, Take Charge Star, representing veteran jockey Johnny Murtagh, has a strong claim to be in the mix. The colt was only a neck behind Thesecretadversary – the horse that denied True Love in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot – indicating that he can hold his own against top‑class opposition.
Returning after a spell since May, Distant Storm reappears in the Group Three Prix Daphnis and will be looking to sharpen his form ahead of the Maurice de Gheest. His connections will be hoping the break from racing has left him fresher than his rivals.
In other racing news highlighted by Sky Sports Racing: - Hollie Doyle anticipates that Thunder Call will feature prominently in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, which will be aired live on Saturday. - Jamie Lynch will have five horses to watch in the Shergar Cup as international stars clash at the historic venue. - Former Premier League striker Kevin Doyle is now pursuing a dream at the Cheltenham Festival with the horses Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi. - At the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Kalpana managed to defeat Calandagan in a thrilling finish.
- Legendary jockey Ryan Moore has been honoured with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list. - In the Derby, Benvenuto Cellini leads a four‑horse contingent for Aidan O’Brien at the Epsom Classic. Charlie Appleby, who has enjoyed a superb run of form, sends a son of Night of Thunder to France in search of his first victory since September. The colt, who placed third in the Dewhurst Stakes and also finished third in the 2000 Guineas at the start of the season, has shown the class required to compete at the highest level.
The race’s form line is intriguing: Thesecretadversary, who finished fifth in the Maurice de Gheest, later captured the Jersey Stakes, while Venetian Prince secured the Italian Derby. Billy Loughnane’s mount, which closed the gap on Gstaad in the Irish 2000 Guineas, could also make further progress under the Godolphin colours.
Komorebi, a runner‑up in the French 2000 Guineas, disappointed when stretched out for the Prix du Jockey Club, finishing tenth. Dropping back to a mile appears to suit him, and if he can repeat his earlier mile performance, he will be a serious contender in the sprint. Campacite, who was beaten a length into eleventh place by Komorebi in the French Derby after a hard‑fought duel in April, has shown promise in his penultimate start behind Hawk Mountain. A repeat of that effort could see him become a factor at Deauville.
Lord Clover lacked the acceleration needed to threaten in the German 2000 Guineas on the final day, but his earlier French form suggests he could still pose a challenge in the French sprint. The card closes on Sunday afternoon at Chepstow with Crimson Road, who is looking to build on a victory over the same course and distance last month in the Capital Windscreens Supports Chepstow Centenary Celebrations Handicap.
On his fourth start for trainers John and Rhys Flint, Crimson Road produced a decisive move inside the final furlong and has been assigned an additional three pounds for his recent success. He should be well‑placed to repeat his performance. Pride Of Nepal, who was disappointing at Epsom in his most recent run, had been in superb form before that, winning four consecutive races, including a course‑and‑distance win at Chepstow in June that completed a hat‑trick. Carrying top weight today, the Tony Carroll‑trained gelding will be looking to re‑assert his dominance and may well give Crimson Road a run for his money.
Overall, the 2026 Prix Maurice de Gheest promises a rich tapestry of talent, from proven Group One winners to emerging sprinters eager to make a name for themselves on the French turf. With True Love as the market favourite, the race will test her speed, versatility and the tactical acumen of her new jockey, Wayne Lordan.
Whether she can convert her Guineas triumph into a sprint crown remains to be seen, but the field is stacked with horses capable of delivering an unforgettable contest for racing fans worldwide.