Allez Fabre

Having failed to collect when bringing a trio of Group 1 fillies over to Newmarket for the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. 12 months ago, Andre Fabre returns all guns blazing with just the one significant representative this time in the supplemented Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Only fourth behind Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) last year, Baron Edouard de Rothschild’s homebred has looked a different proposition this term while that rival has appeared to take backward steps. Successful against the colts last time in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 16, Esoterique missed the G1 Prix du Moulin after the rain arrived and so comes here a fresh mare. “She was visually quite impressive in the Prix Jacques le Marois on soft ground and then it was even softer at Longchamp for the Prix du Moulin, so we withdrew her,” trainer Andre Fabre commented. “I am convinced that she is a better filly on good ground. She is five years old now and, like most horses, has become stronger and easier to train.”

While France have ruled the roost in this recently, with Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and Sahpresa (Sahm) accounting for four of the last six renewals between them, Cheveley Park Stud’s Integral was on top despite the Fabre invasion last year. She has suffered three subsequent defeats, with the latest being the only notably below-par one when fifth in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot June 17, but connections believe they have her back to her best. “[Esoterique] deserves a huge amount of respect and will be tough to beat,” Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said. “This has been on the cards for a long time for us. She wouldn’t want the ground to get quick but it shouldn’t, it’s just that she’s had issues with her feet which has why she’s been off since Ascot. Sir Michael has been happy with her of late and we’re hoping for a good run.”

Also from France is the Wertheimers’ Bawina (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Alain Louis-Dreyfus’ Maimara (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), with the former holding the stronger claims of the pair. Bawina beat Esoterique when that rival was running under a 7-pound penalty in the G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud May 1 and has been placed in two Group 1 contests on her last two starts. The latest of those was a second in a tactical renewal of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville Aug. 23 and trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias commented, “She’s not far from winning her Group 1 and we keep trying. She’s much better over a mile and will love the straight of the Rowley Mile and is very well, but I’m hoping the ground is not too firm.” One from leftfield is Yasushi Kubota’s progressive Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has won the Listed Dick Hern Fillies’ S. at Haydock over this trip Aug. 8 and the seven-furlong G3 Sceptre S. at Doncaster Sept. 10 since joining the Roger Varian stable. “We were impressed by Realtra at Doncaster and her subsequent work has been very good,” her trainer said. “She has got to improve again, but we feel that she deserves her place in the line up and I can see her running a big race.”