Moment Of Truth

Untested in two starts so far, Khalid Abdullah’s TDN Rising Star Antonoe (First Defence) will be given plenty to think about as she tackles Sunday’s G1 Total Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. Following a 6 1/2-length debut success over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 7–the form of which has been boosted by the subsequent wins of the next three home including Al Shaqab Racing’s re-opposing Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})–with a 2 1/2-length score in the G3 Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly Sept. 8, the homebred heads to post with maximum confidence from jockey Vincent Cheminaud. “She’s probably the best of her generation and has more improvement to come, like New Bay,” he said. “She’s the best in France for sure.” Trainer Pascal Bary is not so forthcoming despite his obvious high regard for the homebred. “The going will be fine for her, she has been impressive in her two races and works impressively too,” he added. “She is quite a tall filly, so she has taken some time but I am very pleased with her now.”

Michael Tabor’s Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) appears one of the Juddmonte standard-bearer’s greatest threats, with a win in the G2 Debutante S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh Aug. 22 preceding a game second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over the same track and trip Sept. 13. This step up to a mile will help her and on bare form she should be a tough nut to crack despite the formidable shadow that Antonoe has cast. Also from Ireland is Jim Bolger’s G2 May Hill S. scorer Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was upping her game in that Sept. 11 Doncaster mile contest having finished fourth in the Debutante. The most unexposed filly in attendance is the Wertheimers’ Sept. 3 course-and-distance winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), another Carlos Laffon-Parias trainee who is open to vast improvement. “She has only run once and may not have the experience, but she beat a lot of good fillies at Longchamp and has a lot of quality,” he said.