Rothschild : Laurens out for a new lease of life
Photo scoopdyga.com
Winner last year at the age of 3 of the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), the Matron Stakes (Gr1) in Ireland and the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr1) in England, between 8 and 10 1/2 furlongs, Laurens (Siyouni) is an exceptional thoroughbred. She was bred in France by François-Melchior Mathet's Bloodstock Agency and she is trained in England by Karl Burke.
Her splendid form was eclipsed by those of Enable, the ill-fated Sea of Class and even Alpha Centauri, whom she defeated at Leopardstown after a defeat over a mile and a half. She finished the season 118th in the World rankings with a 117lbs rating.
Second, against the boys for her return this season over the Newbury mile in the Lockinge Stakes (Gr1), she couldn't keep up at Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr1), where she tried to make all.
Sunday, Laurens, now 4, tries to win again over the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) mile at Deauville.
Eight other females, three of whom are 3 years old, challenge her.
The last three winners of the race were 3 when they won the race, including With You (Dansili), who is starting again on Sunday. She is trained by Freddy Head, who has won the race 5 times as a rider, and five other times as a trainer, making him twice a record man in the race. With You ran only once this season and finished eighth over 9 furlongs in the Prix d'Ispahan.
The 3-year-old fillies starting this year are East (Frankel), beaten in the Irish Guineas (Gr1) after taking third place in The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000, Gr1), Qabala (Scat Daddy), who has so far been unable to repeat her success in the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Gr3) at Newmarket but will wear blinkers for the first time, and the French-trained Obligate (Frankel), undefeated in three races including the Prix de Sandringham (Gr3), recently at Chantilly.
Move Swiftly (Farhh) boasts the best rating after Laurens and With You. She has just won her first Group 2, over this trip at Royal Ascot. Her stablemate at William Haggas's yard in England, Beshaayir (Iffraaj) couldn't make it all in the Falmouth Stakes (Gr1), on a rainy afternoon, and she finished fifth just behind Qabala that day. It was a strange race though, won by the pacesetter Veracious, in full bloom this Summer.
Magical Dreamer (Acclamation), who has just won the Grand Prix Anjou-Bretagne (L) at Nantes, and Joplin (Soldier Hollow), who has just won a Listed on this course and distance, dip their toe in a bigger pond than usual.
Starting time is 4:30pm in France.