Laurens Bids to Bounce Back in Prix Rothschild

Laurens was a heroine of the 2018 flat season, notching four group 1 victories at ParisLongchamp, Chantilly, and Newmarket.

This year things have been less straightforward for John Dance's star filly, and having failed to build on a fine comeback  effort behind Mustashry in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) when only sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the Karl Burke trainee has been on the sidelines with a minor hock issue.

"She had to miss the (Tattersalls) Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, but we immediately nominated the (July 28) Prix Rothschild (G1) as an alternative, and we've been happy with how she's recovered from her very minor setback," said Burke. "Everything has been perfect over the last few days. Fingers crossed, I hope she'll run a big race.

"I suppose Laurens has something to prove again having been second in the Lockinge and sixth in the Queen Anne, but she's running against her own sex for the first time since winning the (Kingdom of Bahrain) Sun Chariot (G1) at Newmarket last autumn, and I always said her first two races this year could be her toughest—there's no reason why she shouldn't perform to her best."

Haggas Aims Two Fillies at Prize

The program book can be a cruel mistress, and it might well be that. In an ideal world, William Haggas would have tried to keep Beshaayir and Move Swiftly apart given both carry the silks of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.

As it is, the uncertain weather has meant having two runners with contrasting ground requirements is no bad thing.

"Ideally, Beshaayir wants faster ground, while Move Swiftly wants it softer," said Haggas. "One of them will hopefully run up to their best in a very competitive race."

Recent form and the likely underfoot conditions would seem to favor Move Swiftly, who progressed through handicaps last season and recorded a career best by some way when winning the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot on her seasonal reappearance.

Beshaayir shares a similar profile, making her group 2 breakthrough when defeating I Can Fly at the Curragh in May before running fifth in the Falmouth on her first try at the highest level.

With You Attempts Back-To-Back Wins

Freddy Head wasted little time in reminding the racing world how much his horses enjoy Deauville when landing the newcomers' race Saturday, and he will be hoping his season, which started slightly slowly, takes another sharp upward turn as With You defends the crown she landed with an all-the-way success at 3.

The daughter of Dansili failed to make any impression in the Prix d'Ispahan (G1) on her return to action but has been given plenty of time to prepare for this group 1.

"She seems well and has progressed since her last race," said Head. "It was a very bad comeback, and it remains to be seen if she is as good at 4 as she was at 3. She has a chance, and I'm putting a pair of blinkers on because that seems to have helped in her work."

Trio of 3-Year-Olds to Fear

Since becoming a group 1, eight of the 15 editions of this race—including the past three—have gone the way of 3-year-olds, and the classic generation is well represented here.

East has shown a liking for France, having added to her group 3 win at 2 with a fine third in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) before failing to give her true running in the Irish equivalent.

Trainer Kevin Ryan said: "The ground was quite quick at the Curragh. We just gave her a break after it and this was always the plan, so we've freshened her up and trained her for this race.

"She's in great form, and the track will really suit her. It looks like it's going to be on the soft side and she has form on easy ground, so that wouldn't be an issue for us. Unfortunately, Jamie (Spencer) had to go to Germany, so we're very lucky Ryan (Moore) was available."

Qabala was another to find life hard at the Curragh but proved her credentials for a test such as this when finishing third to Hermosa in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) for Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani.

"Her run in Ireland was too bad to be true, and she scoped poorly afterwards," said Bertrand Le Metayer, racing manager to the sheikh. "She wore blinkers on her comeback run at Newmarket because she is quite a cool filly who can take time to get going.

"She ran OK in them, and we hope she can perform right up to her best this time. The soft ground is a bit of an unknown, but she's a laid-back filly who seems adaptable."

Obligate, who won the Prix de Sandringham (G2) last time, has proved hard to catch from the front in three starts, and her trainer Pascal Bary said: "I don't doubt her quality, but the complicating factor is a straight mile for a filly who likes to make the running and has a great stride on her.

"I hope Pierre-Charles (Boudot) can manage her resources. She won on fast ground the day of the Jockey Club and it was soft the two times before, so I've no worries on that level."