Light Infantry is expected to return to Australia for a possible bid at the Group 1 Cox Plate in late October.
Third in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday, the David Simcock-trained colt will be given one more run in Europe before heading to Australia for a second time.
Although Light Infantry has failed to win since October 2021, the son of Fast Company continues to produce big performances at the top level. He has excelled in France, having placed in the past two runnings of the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, a second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and finished runner-up in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan.
"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.
"He will probably take in the Group 3 [Prix Quincey] back here [Deauville] in two weeks' time. The Moulin [Longchamp] could be an option."
Light Infantry, partially owned by Australian connections, was transferred to the stables of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace following a second in the 2022 renewal of the Prix Jacques le Marois. He had one run in Australia, finishing a credible staying-on sixth in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill over seven and a half furlongs in late October.
Although the Group 1 Cox Plate appears to be the main target for Light Infantry, he could take his place in the newly-created Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick in mid-October.
Run over a mile as a weight-for-age race, the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes will carry a prize fund of five million dollars and sit alongside the twenty-million-dollar Everest Stakes on 14 October at Royal Randwick. The Cox Plate, over the extended 10f is run at Moonee Valley two weeks later on 28 October.
