January set to shine in Deauville's Prix Rothschild
The first of five Group 1s at France's extended version of Royal Ascot is regarded as "the ladies' Prix Jacques Le Marois", for trainers preferring their fillies to avoid taking on the colts over the same straight 1,600m course in the festival's showpiece in a fortnight's time.
Ballydoyle's Aidan O'Brien is double-handed with the more fancied January, runner-up in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes (1,600m) and Exactly, sixth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1,600m).
"A mile is really her trip. We're getting closer step by step," said the Irish master trainer of January.
"It's always a little frustrating to come so close, but she ran very well. She's improving, and we're on the right path."
Christophe Head, son of Freddy who trained four-time Prix Rothschild winner Goldikova, supplemented Start Of Day on July 31.
"She ran well in England (fifth in Royal Ascot's Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, 1,594m) last time," said Head. "She gets the 1,600m no problem and the aim is to get her ready for the Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1, 2,000m), which is her main summer objective."
There are high hopes for another French contender, Godspeed, who atoned from a poor run in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas, 1,600m) to land the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham (1,600m) at Chantilly in June.
"Unfortunately, she had a dreadful draw (13/13) in the French Guineas, but she showed her true class in her next race," said Yann Lerner, co-trainer with his father Carlos.
Francis-Henri Graffard hopes to continue his fine season with Mandanaba, stablemate of Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) hero Calandagan.
Third in the French 1000 Guineas, she drops back in trip after just missing out on a place in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks, 2,100m).
Graffard also saddles Pinta and Matilda, who is at her first run since moving to her new French trainer after her explosive 25-1 win against the colts in the Group 2 Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas, 1,600m). HKJC
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a day ago
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