Having re-established her dominion in the sprinting ranks with a dramatic success in the G1 Nunthorpe S., Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) returns to Chantilly on Sunday to bid to become the first in 23 years to register back-to-back victories in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye. The Elite Racing Club's homebred was the only one capable of overcoming Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in a lung-bursting renewal of York's famed sprint last time on Aug. 25 and she comes back here undeniably a stronger filly than 12 months ago so the confidence of connections is fully justified.
“We're very happy with her and she appears to be in as good a form as she was before York,” the syndicate's racing manager Dan Downie said. “The ground should be fine. If they get the rain it might be a bit slower than last year. I'd say she's in a similar place to where she was a year go. Her coat is starting to go, but it did last year so you wouldn't be worried about that. We're generally happy with her.”
Rider Luke Morris added, “She's probably better on better ground to be honest, but she ran reasonably well at Goodwood on it and that track suits her well so I'd be hopeful of a big run.”
One of those who disappointed in the Nunthorpe was Shadwell's July 8 G3 Sandown Sprint S. and Aug. 4 G2 King George S. scorer Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was fourth after getting upset in the preliminaries. Racing manager Angus Gold is hoping that the 3-year-old can keep control this time.
“It's up to him a bit,” he said. “Obviously he didn't show his best in any sense at York. He was disappointing with his attitude, so I hope he does it a bit better mentally,” he said. “Charlie [Hills] has been very happy with him. We know the ability is there. Let's hope he can get back to where he was in the summer.”
Of the French-trained protagonists, the stand-out on past evidence is Isabelle Corbani's Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who is having his first run in this race. Last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero beat old rival Finsbury Square (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in convincing fashion in the six-furlong G3 Prix de Meautry at Deauville last time on Aug. 27 and is a leading player on his prior beating of Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges over this trip there May 13. Godolphin's Profitable, who was second behind Battaash in the King George at Goodwood was only sixth in the Nunthorpe but trainer Clive Cox believes this is more in his ballpark.
“He's very well indeed and we are looking forward to it,” he commented. “The forecast will keep it wetter rather than holding ground, but I've no concerns about an easy surface for him. He is a proven Group 1 horse and should be competitive. There's no doubting his ability and he's had time between races this year.”
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