Saturday's G2 Shadwell Prix de la Nonette at Deauville sees the reintroduction of the Niarchos Family's G1 Prix de Diane heroine Senga (Blame), but any hopes that she would be provided with a soft landing have been dashed by the presence of several top-class fillies. Two of them were behind her and one fell as she produced her telling acceleration in the 10 1/2-furlong Chantilly Classic on June 18, with 'TDN Rising Star' Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) faring best in fourth. The latter's trainer John Gosden was of the opinion that the extra half-furlong stretched Khalid Abdullah's May 17 G3 Musidora S. scorer and she comes here fresh after swerving Glorious Goodwood.
Whereas Shutter Speed missed Goodwood, Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Sobetsu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was third in the G1 Nassau S. there on the testing ground she relishes on Aug. 3. That was a return to the form she showed when winning the May 14 G1 Prix Saint-Alary over this course and distance, when Martin Schwartz's Vue Fantastique (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) was three lengths back in second. Vue Fantastique, who was 11th in the Diane, is one of two to race in the orange Schwartz silks alongside Onthemoonagain (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was the faller in the home straight during that Classic. Vue Fantastique has subsequently won the G3 Prix de Psyche at this track and trip July 29, where Onthemoonagain was third but showed distinct promise.
In a strong edition where nothing can be ruled out, more pattern-race form is on show from the July 9 G3 Prix Chloe scorer Ibiza (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Godolphin's July 2 G2 Prix de Malleret winner Strathspey (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
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