Fellowes hoping for Perfect outcome in France

South Wales Guardian

19 hours ago

Owned by the Basher Watts Racing Club and trained by Charlie Fellowes, Shes Perfect was first past the post in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before losing the race after an inquiry, and after unsuccessfully trying to appeal the decision, connections cross the Channel once again hoping to correct the record.
Fellowes said: 'This has been the plan pretty much since the French Guineas and we had the choice between this or the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but I always thought she would stay at least 10 furlongs and we felt this was the right time to try it.
Breaking: The French 1000 Guineas appeal has been dismissed and Zarigana keeps the race over Shes Perfect pic.twitter.com/M1mvmaTBdZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025
'She's in good order and hasn't missed a beat since Longchamp and she's travelled over well. They've had a bit of rain which is welcome and will hopefully take the sting out of the ground which is ideal.
'The draw is fine in seven and being honest with only 12 runners it wasn't quite as crucial as it was for Luther in the French Derby where there was a few more and we didn't want to be posted wide. Also she is electric out of the gates which negates any draw concerns really.'
It was Francis-Henri Graffard's Zarigana who was ultimately awarded the French 1000 Guineas crown at ParisLongchamp, but her stablemate Mandanaba was also on the premises in third and Fellowes is respectful of the challenge she represents.
Fellowes added: 'It's a good race and there is plenty in there to beat. Mandanaba ran a screamer in the Guineas and on pedigree should have no problem staying further and Aidan (O'Brien) has two in there who always have to be respected so it is no walk over by any stretch of the imagination.
'But we're really looking forward to seeing her run and hopefully she can go over there and do the business.'
As identified by Fellowes it is Mandanaba who presents the biggest danger to Shes Perfect, with a Classic success for the daughter of Ghaiyyath particularly poignant as she runs in the colours of Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: 'Her breeding would suggest she'll be better over a mile and a quarter.
'We hesitated for a long time over whether to run in the Prix Saint-Alary or put her in the Group One Classic over a mile because it is a Classic and you don't get many opportunities when the horse is well to run at that level in that type of race.
'She ran a great race, it was only her third run and she got left a little bit on her own on the inside and she was very game.
'She's a very genuine filly who shows quite a lot of speed early in her races and we think she's a filly who likes good, fast ground.
She could be very good!
Mandanaba doubles her tally with a taking win in the Prix Vanteaux at ParisLongchamp for @GraffardRacing!🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/zU72nrfCS4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 6, 2025
'She's not a big filly, but she's quite strong and it's a nice story in that she's the last foal of her dam Mandesha, who was retired after she foaled her.
'Mandesha was a champion for Princess Zahra who won three Group Ones over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, which is quite a rare achievement and it's nice to find some of her quality in her last foal.'
Also trained by Graffard is Cankoura has won three of her five starts, although this represents a big rise in class from the Listed race she won at ParisLongchamp last time out.
Further British representation, meanwhile, comes with American Gal for the in-form Ed Walker and the John and Thady Gosden-trained Sand Gazelle, while O'Brien saddles Bedtime Story and Merrily, with Ryan Moore aboard the first-named.