Fabre May Bypass Prix Marcel Boussac With Raclette

Raclette has been hailed as one of the most exciting fillies in training after impressive displays at Deauville and Chantilly, both of which came on ground with a give in it.

But a threatened deluge ahead of the Oct. 3 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) means Andre Fabre—who also has Fleur d'Iris  and Zellie  in the nine-runner line-up—could yet switch the daughter of Frankel  to next week's bet365 Fillies' Mile (G1) at Newmarket. 

"Raclette has not beaten much so far but in very good style," said Fabre. "She has been more tenderly campaigned than the other two. I'm a bit worried about the ground and she'll be entered at Newmarket next Friday and so I could take her out at the last moment."

Oisin Murphy takes the ride on stablemate Zellie, who has a 1 1/2 lengths to find on Fleur d'Iris from their meeting in the Prix d'Aumale (G3).

Fabre said: "Zellie and Fleur d'Iris are two good fillies and they both have decent chances. Fleur d'Iris might be the tougher of the two, whereas Zellie's style of racing makes life a bit difficult, though she is very good as well."

Agartha  has been a model of consistency during a busy campaign and comes here in fine heart after chasing home Discoveries  in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) last month.

"She's been running really well all year," trainer Joseph O"Brien said. "This looks a very good race, but she's in great form and we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on in this. She has form on good ground and a softer surface so she's quite versatile with regard to the going."

Without doubt the best bred filly in the line-up is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Natasha, a Frankel half sister to Almanzor , while Ryan Moore is back onboard Oscula  for the first time since she won the Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing (G3) at Deauville.

"(Natasha is) an exceptionally bred filly who has won her last two starts well," said joint-trainer Thady Gosden. "She very much deserves her chance and hopefully there won't be too much rain overnight. She'll handle the ground as it is now but we'll have to find out about that if it gets worse."

Of Oscula, syndicate manager Nick Bradley said: "We had her in the (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, G1) and this race until Wednesday. I think the track will suit her, I spoke to George (Boughey) the day after (she ran third in) the (Unibet) Rockfel (G2) and she was bucking and kicking. You can never be 100% but all the signs look good."

Acer Alley  went into plenty of notebooks after beating the colts in the Prix la Rochette (G3) over seven furlongs and is likely to be delivered late by Olivier Peslier.

"She's had four weeks since the group 3, which is perfect, and she's a filly I've always thought a lot of," trainer Francis Graffard said of Acer Alley. "It's the right race for her and if the ground gets soft that won't be problem for her. In terms of staying the trip, a lot will depend on how fast they go. She's becoming easier to ride and I don't expect the extra 200 meters to catch her out."

The Boussac will award the winner a berth in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.