By Sean Cronin
Baron Edouard de Rothschild's four-time Group 1 winner Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who successfully defended her G1 Prix Rothschild title at Deauville last month, will return to the Normandy venue in an attempt to register back-to-back victories in Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet. She will encounter four rivals after all five overnight contenders stood their ground for the €250,000 10-furlong contest. Opposition includes 'TDN Rising Star' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was supplemented at a cost of €18,000, and the enigmatic Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), another four-time Group 1 winner who is winless in three outings this term. The line-up is completed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained duo American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Maxux (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
The card's other Group 1 contest, the €350,000 G1 Sumbe Prix Morny, also saw all overnight nominees confirmed as runners and nine will head postward for the six-furlong highlight. Last week's G1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make a swift return to action and has drawn stall two. Rivals include Wathnan Racing's G2 Norfolk Stakes hero Shareholder (Not This Time) and Manton Thoroughbreds' G2 Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), with both making their first start since basking in Royal Ascot glory. Other notable contenders include Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {GB}), G3 Prix de Cabourg victrix Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' and Cabourg runner-up Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes runner-up Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) has been supplemented for a fee of €25,200 and the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee is one of five overseas challengers. Cuadra Mediterraneo's hitherto unbeaten Estepona (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Yeguada Centurion's Epson Blue Cen (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) complete the line-up.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
