First it was Agave, then Dreamflight and now Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) as the Andre Fabre-Olivier Peslier link-up continues apace in the new season. Al Wasmiyah Farm's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine returns in the seven-furlong G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville, a key trial for the upcoming mile Classics last won by a subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine in Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) in 2008 and in 2015 by the eventual G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches scorer Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Peslier is on record as saying that he likes to continue his partnerships with certain horses and in the absence of a full-time stable jockey, Fabre seems keen to employ his expertise and experience this term.
Zellie's opponents include Everest Racing, David Redvers and Barbara Keller's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani's 'TDN Rising Star' Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), who has a mighty step up to make but is an unexposed Rouget representative. Enough said.
While the G3 Prix Djebel lacks the clout of the Imprudence, Team Calas's unbeaten Rock Boy (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) comes away from the provinces to test his mettle against hardened colts with sights set on the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
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