Psyché : Villa Marina, the strongest around

Villa Marina (Le Havre) had the last word in the Prix de Psyche (Gr3) which seemed at one stage within the reach of a closing Edisa (Kitten's Joy), but the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained filly not only resisted but took off again as her challenger faded, Saturday over the Deauville's 10-furlong trip. Her rider Olivier Peslier won the race for the fourth time, this time for the Hinojosa family, owner and breeder of the winning filly through their Darpat France company.

Ridden close to the pace inside, Villa Marina accelerated well in mid-straight and won by nearly two lengths. She has completed the last two furlongs in less than 24 seconds but the overall time is 8 seconds higher than the race record, quite understandably on a very soft turf.

Romancière (Dansili) stayed on in third after trying to make the decision early in the straight.

Villa Marina had just won her first race in a Listed event over 10 furlongs at ParisLongchamp. She had previously been beaten by the "Grey Ghost" Arahmes, an impressive but seldom out colt who could show up again in the fall.

Villa Marina is out of Briviesca (Peintre Célèbre), a Listed winner who has already given Aguafria (More Than Ready), a Listed-placed in France exported to the USA. She succeeds Homerique, Vue Fantastique and Left Hand, who was also trained by Laffon-Parias.