We are now in a new era where the fillies and mares of Europe are at least a match for the colts and have come to subsequently dominate the Arc itself. With star names like Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged in the main event, Sunday's supporting G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at Chantilly, a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in November, could be forgiven for lacking substance, but instead it hosts seven individual Group 1 and two Classic winners in a measure of the strength of the distaffers of modern times. Again, it is Ballydoyle who have the key, as Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to prove her narrow defeat of Winter in the G1 Matron S. over a mile at Leopardstown was no fluke on Sept. 9. She had last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and stablemate Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) back in fourth and seventh respectively on that occasion, but that was the latter's first outing since breaking a blood vessel in the G1 Prix de Diane here June 18 and on their 2-year-old form Rhododendron was clear-best as she proved in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October.
Wuheida's trainer Charlie Appleby commented, “Wuheida put up a good performance in the Matron S., when she was beaten less than two lengths, and I think that the step back up in distance is going to suit her. I felt that she didn't quite get a mile and three furlongs on testing ground in the German Oaks, but 10 furlongs could be her ideal trip. She won at this meeting last year and returns in good shape.”
Another who has taken the measure of Wuheida this term is Gestut Haus Zoppenbroich's Lacazar (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who had that Godolphin representative back in third when capturing the G1 Preis der Diana over 11 furlongs at Dusseldorf on Aug. 6. She is one of the duo of Classic winners set to contest this alongside the Niarchos Family's Senga (Blame), who emerged best in the June 18 G1 Prix de Diane and may have needed her return when third behind Sobetsu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Onthemoonagain (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in Deauville's G2 Prix de la Nonette over this trip on Aug. 19.
The Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper said of Senga, “Pascal Bary is very happy with her. She's a Prix Diane winner returning to Chantilly where she runs particularly well and she should be very competitive. It was a nice run back in the Prix de la Nonette and she's come on for that.”
One of those without a win in this category so far is His Highness The Aga Khan's Aug. 20 G3 Royal Whip S. and G2 Blandford S. winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but the manner of her repeat success in the latter 10-furlong contest suggests she belongs here. The form of that Sept. 10 Curragh race was boosted by the subsequent listed win of the runner-up Beautiful Morning (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and she will appreciate any more rain.
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