Clement aims for more trial glory with Brocottes
Preview: France, Tuesday (1.50 BST)
Saint-Cloud: Prix Penelope (Group 3) 1m2½f, 3yo fillies
WITH the Prix de Diane put back until June 17 this year it may seem a long way off to be running a trial for the Chantilly Classic.
Yet the Prix Penelope has more than a century of history in the role and the assembled cast for this renewal appear well up to standard.
Brocottes (Nicolas Clement/Christophe Lemaire) chased home Godolphin's Mandaean in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November on ground much worse than the predicted soft underfoot conditions for this race.
"She's been working well and the stable is in good form," said Clement, who has already sent out 2,000 Guineas hopeful French Fifteen and the unbeaten Border Song to score in the early weeksof the season.
"It's her seasonal debut of course, but I'm very hopeful."
Mirandola (Yves de Nicolay/Pierre-Charles Boudot) finished two places and a length behind Brocottes in the Criterium, and has had the benefit of a run this season.
Among those with no Group form but big reputations, Rjwa (Francois Rohaut/Francois-Xavier Bertras) could hardly have been more impressive in making it two wins from three starts in a conditions race on the new Chantilly all-weather track.
His trainer took this race with a similar type in Baldwina back in 2001.
There is even less racecourse evidence to go on with Waldlerche (Andre Fabre/Maxime Guyon), winner of her sole start over 1m at Maisons-Laffitte at the back end of last season.
Third-placed Britney recently advertised the form at Chantilly, but just as eyecatching is Waldlerche's lineage.
The daughter of Monsun is a half-sister to Ladbrokes St Leger winner Masked Marvel.
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