Not this time for Gstaad but plenty more to come from Carmarthenshire-bred horse

I was not to be for Gstaad in Sunday's Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville, but connections still have an exciting prospect - one bred in Carmarthenshire out of a mare who cost just £800.

- With JAMES BURN

It was at a sale in Doncaster in 2011 that Kelly Thomas bought Gstaad’s dam Mosa Mine for the modest sum and she struck gold when Vandeek, the fifth foal the mare produced, landed the Prix Morny in 2023.

Thomas, based at Maywood Stud just to the north of Carmarthen, then hit the jackpot again when Gstaad was sold to Coolmore - racing’s most powerful operator - for 450,000 guineas (around £470,000).

He was placed into training with Aidan O'Brien, whose Irish stable is the envy of many and won at Navan in May before a sparkling performance in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot a month later.

Off since then, the colt returned in the Prix Morny and was prominent, holding every chance entering the final furlong.

He was briefly outpaced, but ran on under pressure in the final 110 yards and took second close home behind British raider Venetian Sun.