Andre Fabre's QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Miss France faces a strong competitor in British-based Integral as she takes on older opponents for the first time in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-I) Aug. 3 at Deauville.
The 1,600-meter (one-race) race drew just four entrants, with 4-year-old Integral looking to be the standout in a competitive field following her two-length triumph over Rizeena in the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) July 11 at Newmarket.
Miss France was fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, when stretching out for the June 15 Longines Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks) after her Guineas win. Her connections said she was unlucky rather than unable to stay the 2,100-meter (about 1 5/16-mile) distance of the French classic.
"She endured a bit of bad luck in the Diane, she got stopped in her tracks just as she was quickening up," Anthony Stroud, spokesman for owners Ballymore Thoroughbred, told England's Press Association.
"Her dam (Miss Tahiti) was second in that race so I wouldn't say she didn't stay, I just think the winner (Avenir Certain) is very good. They went a slow pace and it was one of those things. If you ran the race again you may see a different result, but the winner is very good, there's no doubting that."
Miss France cuts back to the Guineas distance for the Rothschild.
Integral won the June 18 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Eng-II) from L'Amour de Ma Vie at Royal Ascot prior to the Falmouth. She began the season finishing a second by a head to Esoterique in the May 4 Qatar Bloodstock Dahlia Stakes (Eng-III) at Newmarket.
"She's been very progressive this season and was most impressive in the Falmouth," Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park, told England's Press Association about Integral. "There are only four going to post but the other three are all top-class in their own right, so it's a trappy little race."
Fabre sends Edouard de Rothschild's Esoterique to reoppose after finishing ninth to Integral in the Duke of Cambridge. Trainer Pia Brandt hopes Md Bloodstock's United Arab Emirates group II winner L'Amour de Ma Vie can turn the tables on the same rival after her runner-up finish at Royal Ascot.
Prix Rothschild (Fr-I), Aug. 3, Deauville, fillies and mares, 1,600 meters (abt. one mile), turf
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 4. Integeral (GB) (Dalakhani), R. Moore, 128, M. Stoute
2. 3. L'Amour de Ma Vie (KY) (Dansili), C. Soumillon, 128, P. Brandt
3. 2. Esoterique (IRE) (Danehill Dancer), P. C. Boudot, 128, A. Fabre
4. 1. Miss France (IRE) (Dansili), M. Guyon, 121, A. Fabre
