Richard Barnes's Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), second in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, could contest the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 14, trainer Martyn Meade confirmed.
“She was certainly coming back at the winner at the line,” said the Newmarket handler of Irish Rookie, who had finished sixth in the G1 1000 Guineas seven days earlier. “It was unfortunate that she didn't have the run of the race and she was left in front and then didn't have time to come back at the winner.”
Meade said his charge's run gives him confidence she will get the 10 furlongs of the French Oaks.
“The fact she came back tells me we ought to try her at 10 furlongs with the French Oaks the logical race; she's also in the [G1] Pretty Polly [at the Curragh June 28]. Whether she'd get further than that, I don't know, but it is very important we get it right from now on. We almost brought her back to seven furlongs after the Guineas and that would have been the wrong thing to do.”
Meade said Irish Rookie has taken her Classic exploits in stride.
“She's back in the yard and is bucking and kicking as if she didn't have a race,” he noted. “That is the best thing about her–she just eats, sleeps and runs.”
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