Eminent dominates from the front at Deauville

Eminent dominated from the front to claim a runaway success in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville.

Martyn Meade's stable star was enjoying a slight drop in class having finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas, fourth in the Epsom Derby and fifth in the Coral-Eclipse on his last three starts, but he faced a formidable rival in the form of dual French Classic winner Brametot.

With Ryan Moore on board for the first time, Eminent was sent straight to the lead in the 10-furlong Group Two and was followed into the home straight by fellow British raider Salouen, trained by Sylvester Kirk.

Eminent soon found another gear to leave his rivals toiling and passed the post comfortably clear, with Salouen keeping on for second.

Having been slow out of the gates and held up in last by Cristian Demuro, Brametot was asked to close on the leaders from the home turn but could only finish a disappointing fifth.

Meade told At The Races: "He had a clear run and showed how good he is. I'm absolutely thrilled.

"There was going to be no lead in the race, so that (making the running) was the only option we had. It's obviously not a brilliant tactic, but it worked out on this occasion.

"I'm so thrilled for the horse. He's come through some difficult times and been thrown in the deep end, by me I have to say.

"He's sort of struggled a little bit and never had the full running, whereas today he could bowl along and say 'this is me, this is what I want to do'. He did it in great style.

"Beating a dual Classic winner in France is quite exciting stuff. That's what made this race so great as well. There were lots of really good horses in it, but he was the one we were worried about. To come home in front of him is fantastic.

"The Guineas didn't work out for him and I don't think a mile is his distance.

"The Derby was absolutely on the nail for him really. He was bumped three times and maybe he wouldn't have won, but certainly he should have been second or third.

"This is a really nice horse who is going to be a fantastic horse and the one thing I try to do is not overdo the horses. You can go too often.

"We've quite a few options as to what we can do and I'll have to think about that pretty carefully."

Asked whether Eminent could come under consideration for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Meade added: "He could do. We can all dream, can't we? I do think he'd like that distance (mile and a half).

"I know him so well now, so it just depends how he is at home. If it's a possibility then I'd love to bring him back."

Eminent is a best-priced 20-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 1. Much as with Almanzor, who was beaten in the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jovkey Club, Brametot is out to 20-1 for the Arc.

Connections of dual French Classic winner will let the dust settle before committing to future targets.

Sylvain Vidal, racing manager to part owner Gerard Augustin-Normand, said: "We will discuss it with Jean-Claude in the next couple of days or next week.

"We are very disappointed, of course. That's life.

"I think there is maybe something wrong with Brametot. Today he was not the same horse we know."