One of the major disappointments of last year's 'TDN Rising Stars', Khalid Abullah's Antonoe (First Defence) returns from a freshener with a reputation to restore in Monday's G3 Prix de Lieurey at Deauville. Having looked out of the very top drawer when handing out a 6 1/2-length beating to no less than Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) on debut at this meeting 12 months ago, the homebred followed up in Chantilly's G3 Prix d'Aumale over a mile in September before her momentum was checked. Only seventh in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day, she returned to be third to Qemah in the G3 Prix de la Grotte back at Chantilly Apr. 20 before winding up 12th in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches here when last seen May 15.
Fourth behind her on debut was fellow Juddmonte representative Midweek (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who went on to be second in the G3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 7 and eighth in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1. After a break, she was beaten a short head attempting to give five pounds to Come Alive (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the Listed Prix Amandine back over the Imprudence course and distance July 4.
Last year's G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Trixia (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was a place behind Antonoe and one ahead of the subsequent Listed Prix la Sorellina winner and G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Chartreuse (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in the Prix de la Grotte, but has been absent since. Jean-Claude Seroul's bay has ground to make up on Guy Pariente's Kenriya (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who was second in the Grotte, and she is another coming off an absence since finishing 11th in the Pouliches.
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