Jacques le Marois third Light Infantry set for one more run in Europe before Australia return

Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois third Light Infantry is set to have one more run in Europe before heading off for another Australian adventure.

Having finished second in the race last year, Light Infantry performed well again at Deauville and would have finished closer to the front two, Inspiral and Big Rock, had he not been short of room and forced to switch in the closing stages.

Twelve months ago, the Fast Company colt went to Australia after the Jacques le Marois, but this time the plan is to have another run for trainer David Simcock. 

"He's going to be a very exciting horse in Australia and he'll actually have one more run before and then go into quarantine in the second week of September," said Simcock.

"We waited from this race to Australia last year and it was too long. He will probably take in the Group 3 back here in two weeks' time [Prix Quincey]. The Moulin could be an option." 

Should Light Infantry be kept in Group 1 company in the Prix du Moulin, he is likely to renew rivalry with Big Rock as the Longchamp contest on September 3 was identified as the Jacques le Marois runner-up's next target by trainer Christopher Head.

Light Infantry, who will again move to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable in Australia, is rated a leading contender for the Cox Plate in October. On his previous trip to the country, he finished sixth in the valuable Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

David Simcock: Prix du Moulin "could be an option" for Light Infantry

Although still searching for Group 1 success, he was gallant in defeat again at Deauville following a string of near-misses at the highest level.

"He's consistent, he's tough and he turns up every time," said Simcock. "He actually appreciated the bit of juice in the ground. I thought it looked like a deeper race than last year. We were delighted. 

"Going a good, even pace, which they did in this race last year, is definitely a help and he's becoming more adaptable."

Triple Time, who beat Inspiral and Light Infantry in the Queen Anne on his previous start, was rated the main threat to favourite Big Rock in the betting, but could only finish fifth after finding no extra inside the final furlong.

Jockey Neil Callan believes the Kevin Ryan-trained four-year-old was not suited by ground officially described as good to soft.

"He's run respectably, but I felt like he was a bit laboured on the ground," Callan said. 

"It was very tacky and hard to get through it. He's lightly raced and hasn't had an opportunity to run on ground like that, it's probably that that has found him out. He hasn't lost anything in defeat and he'll be back when he gets some better ground."

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