Shes Perfect set for drop in grade - but Group 1 rematch with nemesis Zarigana could be on the cards in the autumn

Shes Perfect will miss Friday’s Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket after Charlie Fellowes elected to lower her sights, but a rematch with her French nemesis Zarigana could be on the cards in the autumn.

The daughter of Sioux Nation enjoyed a racecourse gallop on the July course on Tuesday in preparation for a possible tilt at the feature on day two of the July festival, but connections have decided to look at calmer waters with their star, who was first past the post in the French 1,000 Guineas in May only to lose it to Zarigana in the stewards' room.

Fellowes has identified this month’s Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot over a mile, or a drop back to seven furlongs for the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, as a way to get a first stakes win with his filly.

Beyond that, the Newmarket trainer has picked out a return to Longchamp in October for the Group 1 Prix de la Foret as a suitable autumn target for the three-year-old.

Cercene: battled past Zarigana in the Coronation StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "Shes Perfect is not going to run at Newmarket next week and will have an easy time of it before we have a look at running her at either Ascot or Goodwood at Group 3 level, which hopefully she can be competitive in and give her a confidence boost.

"She didn’t get home in the French Oaks last time and we know she likes Longchamp, so the Prix de la Foret could be the way to go. Wherever she runs next we’ll be working back from that."

The Foret has been mentioned as an option for Zarigana, a clash that would provide a high-profile undercard rematch on Arc day.

Fellowes added: "I had to chuckle when I read somewhere that Zarigana was also targeting the Foret, and if so it should be an interesting race to say the least."

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