Alverta Misses Out In France

Australian mare Alverta has missed a place in the Group I Prix Maurice De Gheest (1300m) at Deauville in France.

The Paul Messara-trained mare jumped well, jockey Tye Angland had Alverta racing just off the pace in the early and middle stages before the rider urged the daughter of Flying Spur along 400 metres out.

Alverta raced erratically over the concluding stages before finishing seventh to the David Nicholls-trained Regal Parade, who was ridden by his son Adrian.

Locally-trained three-year-old filly Joanna finished second ahead of the High Standing.

The Australian-bred sprinter War Artist also raced close to the pace but weakened over the concluding stages to finish among the tailenders.

Meanwhile, connections of Harbinger will decide the star galloper’s immediate future early this week.

Harbinger shot to the top of the world thoroughbred rankings with his 11-length win in the King George VI and Queen Anne Stakes last month before the four-year-old suffered a leg injury in a workout on the weekend.

John Warren, a director of Harbinger’s ownership syndicate Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, told the Racing Post the son of Dansili was a “longshot” to ever race again after surgery on the injury.