Clement won't mind any rain as he eyes Ascot for fresh Rose

Nicolas Clement believes The Juliet Rose could enjoy an edge in terms of freshness over some of her more campaign-weary rivals when lining up for the £600,000 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Saturday.

Clement will not be one of those trainers nervously eyeing the heavens from Wednesday onwards, when rain is forecast to return to the Ascot area.

Speaking at Chantilly on Sunday after Traffic Jam's success in the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris, Clement said of The Juliet Rose: "It won’t be easy to beat the British but the filly is well and has come out of her win here in good shape.

"The more of a test it becomes the better because she stays very well."

Nicolas Clement: 'the more of a test it becomes the better for The Juliet Rose'Credit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

A general 20-1 chance for Ascot behind another Chantilly-based filly, Prix Vermeille winner Bateel, and Journey, who jointly head the market at 4-1, The Juliet Rose carries the colours of Markus Jooste's Mayfair Speculators and has only once finished out of the money in ten starts.

While she is yet to win at Group 1 level, her Prix de Royallieu victory over Arc weekend was a third success in Pattern company.

The Juliet Rose was forced to make her own running in the Royallieu when Traffic Jam was withdrawn by the starter after being unruly behind the stalls.

"She doesn’t have to lead like she did last time but she wants a race run at a good tempo," said Clement.

"A mile and a half on soft ground is what she wants, and on top of that she is still quite fresh. She has run only in the Prix de Pomone and then the Royallieu.

"She's a filly with just the two races under her belt who perhaps could be running up against horses who are beginning to tire at the end of a long season, while she's still fresh."

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