This was the Arc prep chosen for La Cressonniere and the unbeaten G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine made light work of it to lead home a one-two-three for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. It was at this track that the bay first made an impact in black-type company when winning the Listed Prix Isonomy over a mile in October and was also the scene of her May 15 mile Classic victory which preceded her latest accompishment in Chantilly's 10 1/2-furlong Classic June 19. Anchored in third early by regular rider Cristian Demuro tracking the pacemaker Ouezy (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the May 16 G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner and July 30 G1 Nassau S. third Jemayel, the hot favourite rushed by that duo approaching the furlong pole and on to a commanding success as the front two pulled clear of the yard's useful yardstick Lakalas. “This was a good workout and exactly what she needed and what we hoped for,” commented Rouget, who also had the fourth as Ouezy held off the only runner not from the stable. “We had not trained her too hard for that, as her one target is in October and she quickened nicely and is a true champion. I always said that she would go straight to the Arc after that and I will not change my mind. She will be trained for that from here in Deauville. The second ran a great race also and we want to go to the G1 Prix de l'Opera [at Chantilly Oct. 2] next, so she too will be kept fresh and be trained from here.”
La Cressonniere's prospects of staying the Arc trip on the first Sunday in October are still unknown and while she possesses the pace of a filly that may be more effective at or below this trip, her pedigree offers some hope. Her second dam Lil's Jessy was the winner of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. over seven furlongs, but produced a daughter of Galileo named Paris Winds (Ire) who was third in the G2 Blandford S. over 10 furlongs. Under the third dam Lobmille is the nine-furlong GI Hollywood Derby third Lone Bid (Fr), with her fourth dam Light O'Battle (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}) being a full-sister to the 1000 Guineas and Prix de Diane heroine Highclere (GB). Among her progeny is Height of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}), the distinguished matriarch whose stamina influence is marked with all of her sire sons Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef excelling over 10 furlongs or more. Absolute Lady also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Air Chief Marshal (Fr) named Tonneville (Ire), a yearling full-brother to La Cressonniere (Fr) named Gratot (Fr) and a filly foal by Anodin (Ire) named Rethoville (Fr).
Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE LA NONETTE BEACHCOMBER HOTELS LE ROYAL PALM ILE MAURICE-G2, €130,000, DVL, 8-23, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:11.77, gd.
1–LA CRESSONNIERE (FR), 126, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Absolute Lady (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lil's Jessy (Ire), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Lobmille (GB), by Mill Reef
O-Gerard Augustin-Normand & Ecurie Antonio Caro; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €74,100. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr, 8-8-0-0, €1,011,130. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Jemayel (Ire), 126, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Nawal (Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire). (€100,000 Ylg '14 AR14). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €28,600.
3–Lakalas (Fr), 126, f, 3, Turtle Bowl (Ire)–Nazlia (Fr), by Polish Precedent. O-Martin S Schwartz Racing; B-Mme Benedicte Ferry Abitbol & Mme Lylia Cadet (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €13,650.
Margins: 2, 5, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.20, 5.50, 6.20.
Also Ran: Ouezy (Ire), Nezwaah (GB). Scratched: Chinoiseries (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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