Loving Dream Gets the Edge in Royallieu Thriller

Loving Dream  showed determination to battle back and nab Believe In Love  in a nail-biting conclusion to the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (G1) Oct. 2 at ParisLongchamp. 

Andrea Atzeni looked to have timed his challenge just right on Believe In Love after Frankie Dettori, rider of Loving Dream, had cut out the pace for most of the 1 3/4-mile trip, but Lordship Stud's homebred fought back in the final strides to add to her Royal Ascot success earlier in the season.

"She may not have been 100% at York and she never got into that rhythm she usually does in her races and wasn't able to put her best foot forward then," said Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of the winner. "She's enjoyed getting her toe in a bit more here.

"Frankie is a genius from the front, as he always tells us, and luckily today he was able to show us."

Atzeni was understandably disappointed to be edged out close home but hugely proud of the way Believe In Love put a poor performance at Goodwood behind her.

"Beforehand if you'd said I would finish second I'd have been happy, but when you're beaten a short head in a photo-finish it's hard to take," said Atzeni.

"The filly loves soft ground and although she's not the biggest she's got a massive heart. She disappointed for some reason at Goodwood but I think she's a better filly in the autumn."