Yet again, it is Andre Fabre who holds the bragging rights to another of France's pattern races, with a record 11 renewals of the G3 Prix de Royaumont on his resume, and he relies on Godolphin's unexposed Jollify (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and Lady O'Reilly and Baron Edouard de Rothschild's Armande (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to represent his all-conquering stable in Sunday's contest at Chantilly. Fourth over 10 furlongs on debut here Apr. 24, Jollify got off the mark in an apprentice's race over an extra furlong at Maisons-Laffitte last time May 13 and, while she has much progression to find off that effort, has to be feared. “This is a big step up in class for Jollify, but she is a filly that we like,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “A mile and a half on soft ground will not be an inconvenience for her and we will be delighted if she finishes in the first three.”
Armande scored on debut over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud Apr. 18 before finishing runner-up at that trip again at Deauville May 16, and could be suited by this step-up in trip as a relative of the legendary Urban Sea (Miswaki). Mayfair Speculators and Equifrance Holdings's The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) comes into this on the back of a success in the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine at this venue May 10, while Chevotel Racing's May 5 Listed Coupe des Trois Ans winner Tres Rock Glory (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is also worthy of respect from the Freddy Head yard.
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