French attendance on Irish Champions Day is a rarity, but Jean-Claude Rouget arrives at Leopardstown on Saturday with a formidable hand which is played first in the G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. with Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Successful in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17 and G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville July 31, Al Shaqab Racing's flag-bearer holds several of her opponents on form and Harry Herbert is hoping she can extend her sequence.
“Qemah comes into the race in terrific form. The Matron has been the target since her impressive win last time out,” he said. “Jean-Claude is very happy with her and I saw her the other day and she looked terrific. She is just a unique filly that has got this terrific cruising speed with the ability to quicken off it. It is all about the pace for her as she seems really well suited by a strong pace, although she is settling much better in her races now. She is a very special filly.”
With Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) and Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in arrears in the Coronation, Qemah's biggest threat may be posed by the unbeaten Persuasive (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). There is no telling at present what she is capable of and the manner of her last two successes in Royal Ascot's Listed Sandringham H. June 15 and G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown Aug. 20, where the subsequent G2 Topkapi Trophy scorer Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) was well beaten, suggest she belongs in this category.
“She goes to the Matron in good form,” trainer John Gosden said. “She did well at Sandown and Andrew [Balding]'s filly [Blond Me] did well in Istanbul. She is a lovely filly that is progressive. The track and the ground should suit her.”
Unlucky at the Royal meeting, Alice Springs captured the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 8 and has had a break since her disappointing eighth when favourite for the Prix Rothschild, while the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Jet Setting also comes back fresh from a holiday after her below-par effort in the Coronation.
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