Seeking The Double

Now that the form of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches has been boosted by Friday's G1 Coronation S. winner Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the stage is set for the fellow Jean-Claude Rouget-trained La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to attempt a Classic double in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly. The jump from the Pouliches to the Diane is just 2 1/2 furlongs, unlike the half-mile that is required for the English Guineas winner to add the Oaks to her tally, so it has always been a more surmountable challenge. While she remains unbeaten, it is difficult to put a limit on Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand's bay, who beat Nathra (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Qemah by a length and a head, respectively, in the May 15 Deauville Classic with a degree of comfort. Rouget also saddles Ecurie I M Fares's Zghorta Dance (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who gave a comprehensive beating to Azaelia (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Vanteaux over nine furlongs here May 20, and Al Shaqab Racing's Jemayel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The latter bids to become the 12th winner of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary to follow up here, and she had Ecurie du Grand Chene's re-opposing Camprock (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) a head behind in second in that 10-furlong feature traditionally staged at Longchamp but this year, like the Pouliches, also held at Deauville May 16. That is fair form considering that rival had previously upstaged Mayfair Speculators and Equifrance Holdings's The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Penelope over this trip Apr. 18, with The Juliet Rose making virtually all in testing ground to subsequently capture the 12-furlong G3 Prix de Royaumont here June 5.

Fourth in the Saint-Alary and just a head behind the G2 German 1000 Guineas winner Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) was the Wertheimers's Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is set to start at inflated odds despite the fact that she was beaten only just over two lengths by Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when finishing off strongly to also be fourth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at a mile on Longchamp's Arc card. Khalid Abdullah's Swiss Range (GB) (Zamindar) had the subsequent G2 Ribblesdale S. scorer Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) well beaten in third in the Listed Pretty Polly S. over 10 furlongs at Newmarket when last seen May 1, and has consciously been laid out for this race by John Gosden.

Andre Fabre has one representative and that is Lady O'Reilly and Baron Edouard de Rothschild's Armande (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was unlucky when third in the Royaumont and who bids to provide his trainer with a fifth edition.