By Sean Cronin
Andre Fabre, currently tied with Francois Mathet on seven wins apiece, bids to forge ahead of that luminary in Sunday's G3 Prix de la Grotte at Chantilly. His in-form team relies on Lady Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a half-sister to leading sire Lope de Vega (Ire) (Shamardal), who attained 'TDN Rising Stardom' when making a perfect start going one mile at Saint-Cloud four weeks ago. Jean-Claude Rouget won this event with subsequent G1 Coronation S. second Lesstalk in Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2014 and with G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Rothschild victress Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) last year, and his presence looms large once more. He is represented by Katsumi Yoshida's recently acquired Toulifaut (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Untried this term, she goes postward off a win in the Sept. 8 G3 Prix d'Aumale and a nightmare eighth in the Oct. 2 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, both over today's course and distance. Like Lady Frankel, Pia Brandt trainee Beauty of Love (GB) (Elusive City) is unbeaten after one attempt and makes her sophomore return coming back from a slow-starting win over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in September. Flaxman Stables' Senga (Blame), a descendant of blue hen Coup de Folie (Halo), impressed when graduating by two lengths at Saint-Cloud in September and also endured trouble when a never-nearer fourth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in her latest start. She lines up for Pascal Bary, whose sole success in this contest was provided by the brilliant Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) in 2005.
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