Rebelline Takes On French Derby Winner Sunday

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Rebelline, who upset Kentucky Derby contender Johannesburg in her last outing, is one of three distaffers entered in the first group I race of the season in France, Sunday's Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

A field of nine horses are entered in the 10 1/2-furlong race. Aside from Rebelline, who defeated Golden Apples when winning last season's Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-II), the Prix Ganay also attracted last year's Prix du Jockey Club--French Derby (Fr-I) winner Anabaa Blue, 2000 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) winner Sagacity, and Prix de Diane Hermes--French Oaks (Fr-I) winner Aquarelliste.

Following last season's Pretty Polly win on a yielding surface, Lady O'Reily's Rebelline finished seventh in Lailani's Irish Oaks (Ire-I) on good turf, then returned from a nearly three-month layoff to finish third in the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I). She concluded her season with an eighth-place performance against males in the Dubai Champion Stakes (Eng-I). In her 4-year-old debut, she rallied in deep stretch to hand Johannesburg his first career defeat in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes (Ire-III).

Elie Lellouche-trained filly Aquarelliste was away from the races for three months following her win in the French Oaks. The 4-year-old daughter of Danehill showed no signs of rust in her return, winning the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) before finishing second to Sakhee in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I). Aquarelliste will be making her seasonal debut in Sunday's race.

(Entries, France-Galop)

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