Minerve Preview: Valia takes another step

The conditions of the Prix Minerve (Gr3) -3-year-old fillies on 12.5 furlongs- remind us of those of the Oaks or the former Prix Vermeille. Yet its timing usually gathers late fillies bound to stay.

None of the 8 listed below has competed in the Prix de Diane, only one ran in the Prix de Royaumont, so the clues are lacking. Everything indicates, however, that the favourite will be Valia (Sea the Stars), an Aga Khan homebred who made an impression with her second victory, also her second outing, in a Listed race disputed over 1m4f ...

Valia’s breeder and trainer won the race 11 and 9 times respectively, showing a certain knack for that kind of race, and fillies suited by late stamina tests.

• 1. VALIA (f3, FRA by Sea the Stars and Veda, by Dansili) Rating: 107lbs

Trained in Chantilly, bred by her owner, out of a French Guineas second, she won for her debut in June over 1m4f and has just confirmed brilliantly by beating by two lengths and a half Wonderful Tonight , whom she faces again here.

• 2. PAIX (f3, IRE by Muhaarar and Pacifique, by Montjeu) Rating: 104lbs

Trained at Chantilly, bred by her owners, she failed twice before winning for the first time, in July at Clairefontaine, and confirming against colts in the Vichy Derby, the Prix Férédéric de Lagrange (L).

• 3. LABURNUM (f3, IRE by Galileo and Secret Garden, by Danehill) Rating: 105lbs

Trained in Ireland, she finished fourth in the Irish Oaks (Gr1) on her third outing and then won for the second time in her young career in a Listed over 9.5 furlongs contested just last Wednesday.

• 4. MOZZARELLA (f3, FRA by Power and Melting Ice, by Verglas) Rating: 100lbs

Trained in Chantilly, she finished fourth in the Prix Caravelle - Haras de Granges (L), then finished well in the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3) over the same distance. Previously, Mozzarella had won two consecutive handicaps, gaining over 15lbs on the weights scale. She was proved convincing again recently by taking third place in the Prix de Malleret (Gr2).

• 5. ORIENTAL MYSTIQUE (f3, GB by Kingman and Madame Chiang, by Archipenko) Rating: 104lbs

Trained in England and bred by her owner, she started last October with a fourth place and then won on the all-weather at Kempton. She was well beaten on her comeback after a 220-day absence, in a 10f Listed race at Newmarket, but she fought hard for victory in the Prix de Malleret (Gr2), only beaten by a top-ranked filly.

• 6. BORN WITH PRIDE (f3, IRE by Born to Sea and Jumooh, by Monsun) Rating: 100lbs

Trained in England, bred by her owners, she started her career last year on heavy ground with a victory at Newmarket. Well beaten for her comeback on all-weather, she then finished fourth in the Queen's Vase (Gr2) over 1m6f against the colts, far behind the future winner of the Irish Derby.

• 7. HIDAKA (f3, FRA by Deep Impact and Royalmania, by Elusive Quality) Rating: -

Trained in Chantilly, bred by her owners, she won last year on this course for her debut and was only seen once since, last June, when she finished fourth and penultimate as a beaten favourite, over 10.5 furlongs at Chantilly. She will undoubtedly have progressed but she's also climbing the ladder a few steps at once.

• 8. WONDERFUL TONIGHT (f3, FRA by Le Havre and Salvation, by Montjeu) Rating: 101lbs

Trained in England, she won her first race at Saint-Cloud after a debut across the Channel, both at 2. Back this season in June over 1m2f, she was just ahead of Oriental Mystique that day and was then unable to do anything at ParisLongchamp against Valia.