G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S.

Via Sistina to Seek Romanet Riches at Deauville

Mrs. R. G. Hillen's G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will head to France for her next start in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville on Aug. 20, trainer George Boughey revealed Tuesday. She most recently finished third in the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket on July 14.

“Via Sistina is in great shape,” Boughey said. “It was a little frustrating watching the [G1] Nassau [last week at Goodwood] without having her in it in that [soft] ground, but it was never really the plan after we went to the Falmouth and she's getting ready to run in the Romanet at Deauville on Aug. 20.

“She'd had two quick runs and we've got to pick our battles–you can't run in every race–and it's been the plan to run in the Romanet for a long time should the ground be right for her. It's the last 4-year-old and above fillies-only race for her this year and we're very pleased with her. She worked yesterday [Monday] morning, Jamie Spencer sat on her and was very happy.”

In the Romanet, Via Sistina will return to 1 1/4 miles at Deauville and will go longer distances for the rest of her campaign, according to Boughey.

“We wanted to experiment over the mile in the Falmouth, but she was tapped for toe and we'll go back up in trip,” Boughey added.

“She's entered in the 10-furlong [G1 Champion S.] and the 12-furlong race [G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S.] on Champions Day at Ascot and she'll be in the [G1] Prix de l'Opera over 10 [furlongs] on Arc day.”

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Coronation Cup Eyed for Emily Upjohn Comeback

John and Thady Gosden's Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will possibly return in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup June 2 as her first start since capturing the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Oct. 15. She was initially set to return in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan but missed the opportunity having not come to hand as quickly as liked and returns to Epsom after being narrowly denied when sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Oaks at the Surrey venue last year.

“She ran a huge race in the Oaks when just beaten there and had a nice swansong (at Ascot) at the end of last year,” Thady Gosden told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday. “She was heading towards Dubai but with the cold weather in the spring, it didn't quite work out. Obviously she would have been taking on Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) which would have been an interesting one. The Coronation Cup would be a nice early one to start with if she's ready in time, but we'll see how she is and she'll tell us.”

Another star filly from the Gosden string staying in training as a 4-year-old is G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who could head to Newbury on May 20 for the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S., with all the top mile races on her radar this term.

“She's wintered well and is in good order, enjoying her training and looks great,” continued Gosden. “She is obviously a top-class miler and all these mile races will be the ones for her. She is certainly an independently minded filly. She has plenty of character but is exceptionally talented.”

A return to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for three-time G1 Dubai Turf winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 7-year-old could bid to repeat his G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes success of 2020 when running on home soil this summer.

“He had a slightly curtailed one last year and it was fantastic to get him back for the Dubai Turf–it was a good team effort there,” Gosden said. “He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes two years ago and he is a horse you could look towards that with.”

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Verry Elleegant To Skip Arc For Champions Day

Champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who had been under consideration for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will instead target the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over 12 furlongs at Ascot on Oct. 15.

The 2021 Australian Horse of the Year and 11-time Group 1 winner won the G1 Melbourne Cup in style at Flemington last November, and added the G1 Chipping Norton S. at Randwick two starts later on Feb. 26. She was then second in the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill in March and fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in heavy going at Randwick on Apr. 9.

“After a really good discussion with the ownership group, it has been decided that Verry Elleegant will have a five-week spell and resume pre-training to be prepared first up, for the Winx S.,” announced trainer Chris Waller on Twitter on Wednesday.

“Whilst running her in the Arc would be a dream come true for all of us, we just felt that it would come around too soon to enable her to have a proper spell and be fully prepared in Australia for the assignment. However, a trip to Europe a little later in the spring is still strongly on the cards providing she returns to the form she showed in the spring when dominating the Melbourne Cup.

“A race that we have identified as a prospective target is the 2400-metre Fillies and Mares Group 1 race on Champions Day at Ascot, one of the most prestigious race days in the world and a worthy stage to showcase her talents.”

Waller added of the mare's early-season targets at home, “It is likely that she will have three runs in Australia in the spring, with the Winx S., the Chelmsford, the Kingston Town and the Underwood all being considered prior to the decision being made on a Melbourne Cup defence or a trip to Europe.”

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