True Love favored for 2026 Prix Maurice de Gheest

True Love heads the markets for the 2026 renewal of the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday, marking the colt as the early favorite for France’s most prestigious all-aged sprint.

The three-year-old son of Muhaarar has impressed in his last two starts, including a comfortable victory in the July Stakes at Newmarket. That form has caught the eye of bookmakers, who have installed him as the 5-2 joint-top choice. Trainer John Gosden, chasing his sixth win in the Group 1, said True Love “loves fast ground” and “has scope for improvement.” The race itself is a Group 1 over six furlongs on Deauville’s firm turf, a surface that has produced recent winners like Space Blues and Battaash.

The Prix Maurice de Gheest has grown in prestige since its move to Deauville in 2020, now drawing top sprinters from across Europe. Last year’s winner, Kinross, returned to defend but faded to sixth, showing how quickly the sprint division evolves. True Love’s main rivals are expected to include the improving filly Meditate Magic and the French-trained sprinter Imperial Fighter, both priced at 7-1. Weather will be key: a dry spell has left the track on the fast side, favoring speed and early pace.

True Love’s connections are already eyeing a tilt at next year’s July Cup at Newmarket, but first they must negotiate Saturday’s Prix de Meautry, a listed sprint at Deauville, where he could face older rivals. A win there would cement his position as the season’s leading three-year-old sprinter and likely make him a target for international handicap ratings. For Gosden, a victory would also underscore his reputation as the go-to trainer for speed horses heading into autumn campaigns. The race kicks off at 3.40pm on Sky Sports Racing, with the first post at 4pm.