by Mike Curry

Marchand d’Or cemented his place in French racing history on Sunday by rolling to his record-setting third consecutive victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-G1) at Deauville.

Trained by Freddie Head for Carla Giral, the gray Marchand de Sable gelding was blocked behind horses with about 400 meters remaining as runner-up African Rose seized command in the $376,175 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Jockey Davy Bonilla guided Marchand d’Or between horses and he unleashed his explosive finishing kick when clear of traffic trouble to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Sent off as the 6-to-5 favorite, Marchand d’Or completed 1,300 meters (6.46 furlongs) in 1:18.40 on turf rated as soft to become the first horse to win three consecutive editions of any French Group 1 race.

"It is great he is now in the record books as he is a real champion,” Head told England’s Press Association.

Head said Marchand d’Or will be pointed to the Betfred Sprint Cup Stakes (Eng-G1) on September 6 at Haydock Park with the long-range goal the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Fr-G1) on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) undercard on October 5.

Marchand d’Or finished second to Red Clubs in the 2007 Sprint Cup.

Out of the Kendor mare Fedora, Marchand d’Or improved to nine wins in 20 career starts. He entered the Prix Maurice de Gheest off a victory in the Darley July Cup (Eng-G1) on July 11 at Newmarket.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor