When Jacques Le Marois, the President of the Societe de Courses de Deauville, died in 1920, the other committee members of the then governing body of horse racing at that seaside resort in France decided to honour his memory by framing a commemorative race. As it so happens, they came up with a metric mile affair for three-year-olds, first run in 1921. Some three decades later, the race was opened to older runners as well. Promoted to Group 1 status, the event has become the centrepiece of the summer meeting, and its roll of honour includes such important names as Lyphard, Kenmare, Irish River, Lear Fan, Miesque, Dubai Millennium, Dubawi and Goldikova.

Had the Richard Hannon stable chosen to field Toronado (by High Chaparral), the 2013 renewal of the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois would probably have qualified as the "Race of the Year" in Europe, if not worldwide. After all, in the Sussex Stakes that illustrious three-year-old had cheekily accounted for no less a star than Dawn Approach (by New Approach), virtually the only defeat suffered by the latter (if one discounts his Epsom Derby debacle).

Despite Toronado's absence – he is to have a short rest – the field of thirteen for the €600,000 feature is a high class one! For Dawn Approach is back just 11 days after his previous appearance, trying to reclaim his position at the helm of the tribe of milers. His schooler, Jim Bolger, well-known for successfully wheeling his charges back after short gaps, is quite hopeful: "I love the competition at the highest level and this is as high as you get, so I'm looking forward to the race. Intello and Moonlight Cloud are obviously very good horses. I discussed it with Simon Crisford, who discussed it with Sheikh Mohammed, and they were very much up for it. It wasn't too difficult a decision, once we knew he was well and had plenty of life in him. He shows his well-being very well, so it's fairly easy to gauge. I haven't had a winner there (Deauville), but I've been there before. Hopefully this will be it."

Opposing Dawn Approach is his "uncle", the star French sophomore, Intello (by Galileo), from the active stable of maestro Andre Fabre, who has won this race no less than five times. With the reliable Olivier Peslier on board, the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) winner will be attempting to take his record to six wins from seven starts; his only loss was an unlucky third to Style Vendome in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas back in May. And unusually the colt was brought back from the 2100 m. of the French Derby to 1600 m., at which trip he annexed the Prix Messidor last time out.

Fabre issued a slightly more conservative bulletin than his rival trainers, when suggesting that the older brigade constituted a formidable obstacle to the star three-year-olds, and that even though the pair of Dawn Approach and Intello (each quoted at around 2 to 1 against) were favoured, their elders deserved respect. He said: "The difficulty is very much increased because of the older horses" adding: "It's a very hot race with Dawn Approach and the others and I'm very respectful of the opposition.". However, of his own runner he ventured: "I think Intello is an exceptional horse. His conformation, his pedigree and his attitude tell me he is not the average horse."

Incidentally, Intello was foaled in Germany when his dam was on a visit to the late, and much lamented, Monsun. The suitability of Europe's most prosperous country as a nurturing ground for top-class Thoroughbreds is more evident than ever in 2013, what with the scintillating performances of Intello earlier this year coupled with that of Novellist in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes last month.

A trio of others from the 2010 crop will also be taking part in the race. The most accomplished of these is Toronado's stablemate, Olympic Glory (by Choisir), who found every two-year-old that opposed him last year to be inferior, bar Dawn Approach who easily had his measure in the Coventry Stakes. This term, the bay has won the Greenham Stakes before putting up a dismal effort behind the aforementioned Style Vendome in the French Guineas, a run that is best ignored as an indicator of merit.

With the colt's usual rider, Richard Hughes, booked for seven rides at Windsor, the mount has gone instead to Frankie Dettori, who knows a thing or two about winning this race, having done so thrice in the past. The trainer was quoted on his website: "Obviously, the Deauville race is going to be red-hot, what with Intello, Moonlight Cloud and maybe even Dawn Approach, but Olympic Glory has really benefited from his break and is in top order. He hasn't run since disappointing from a bad draw in the French 2000 Guineas, but it was the second half of the season last year when he really started to shine, and he could be a late summer, early autumn type of horse. He made heavy weather of winning the Superlative at Newmarket's July meeting, but he improved plenty to come from last to first in the Vintage at Goodwood and then produced that fabulous performance to win the Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day."

Of the same vintage, Leitir Mor (by Holy Roman Emperor) has more appeal as a pacemaker rather than as the potential winner of this feature. And while Peace At Last (by Oasis Dream) is a useful sort, it will take an extraordinary degree of defection on the part of the top talent engaged here for him to roll to victory.

Eight older runners will also be in the field, trying to cope with the younger brigade. Realistically, only four of these have a chance – the distaffers Moonlight Cloud (by Invincible Spirit) and Elusive Kate (by Elusive Quality) and the entires Declaration Of War (by War Front) and Aljamaaheer (by Dubawi). Of the balance four, two are such forlorn hopes that punters can obtain 500 to 1 against either!

The ultra-consistent Moonlight Cloud is in rare form, having taken the Gr.1 Prix Maurice du Gheest (1300 m.) on the same track just last week. Last year too, trainer Freddie Head had tried to complete the same double but the then-four-year-old could only finish fourth in the second leg. The filly had rebounded to score in the Prix du Moulin last September, but that has been her only success over further than 1400 m. and on balance she would be more a candidate for a place than for the win. Thierry Jarnet is at the controls on the 3 to 1 chance.

Like her fellow female, Elusive Kate is in great heart and comes in here off two consecutive Gr.1 triumphs, both over the same distance. In fact, her last 10 starts have all been over 1600 m. (or the Imperial equivalent of a mile). Her record at Deauville is phenomenal for a British runner – four wins from five appearances! However, that sole loss came in this very race last year, when she finished a head in front of Moonlight Cloud but behind Excelebration and Cityscape. John Gosden's stable jockey, William Buick, remains in charge. Given the circumstances, her price of 10 to 1 surely provides better value than Moonlight Cloud?

Aidan O'Brien has enjoyed a good season and Declaration Of War has been one of his leading lights. After accounting for Aljamaaheer in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he ran consistently in the Eclipse Stakes – two lengths second to Al Kazeem – and at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes – three lengths third to Toronado and Dawn Approach – so while he ought to be "thereabouts", he will need to show some significant improvement to be able to topple all his rivals. As usual, the reins will be in the hands of the trainer's son, Joseph, and they are adjudged to hold a 10 to 1 chance. Should O'Brien's ward score, he will provide the schooler with his 35^th Group 1 win in France – one of which came in this very race last year through the medium of Excelebration.  

With a touch of realism about his ward Aljamaaheer, Newmarket-based handler Roger Varian said: "It's a very good race. All the top milers are there bar Toronado, I think. Our horse goes there in good form. I think he's sixth best on ratings and sixth best in the betting forecast, and that's about where he stands. The one thing that maybe is in our favour is that Dawn Approach and Declaration Of War both had a hard race in the Sussex at Goodwood and Moonlight Cloud only ran a week ago..... I'm not saying those horses won't run up to form, but if we're going to take them on, now is probably the best time to do it.". Retained rider Paul Hanagan continues his association with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's four-year-old, offered at 18 to 1.

Given their consistency, and assuming the race is truly run, the two star three-year-olds, Dawn Approach and Intello are preferred, with Elusive Kate a good bet for a place.