Emoji bids to leave Francis Graffard smiling in the Prix Vanteaux

Prix Vanteaux (Group 3) | 1m1f | 3yo fillies | SSR

Trainer Francis Graffard is confident that he has a potential top-notcher in his care with likely favourite Emoji in a race that is viewed as a trial for the Prix de Diane, held this year at Chantilly on July 5.

Latice was the last horse to win both races in 2004.

A winner of both her starts including a Listed event at Saint-Cloud in March, Emoji will be tackling this 1m1f trip for the first time with Graffard expecting his charge to relish conditions under Pierre-Charles Boudot.

He said: "I doubted her speed for 1,600 metres [mile] on good ground though as it happens, with the rain they had at Longchamp, she would have run well in the Prix de la Grotte on Monday. Pierre-Charles Boudot and I are both keen to stretch her out in trip."

Jean-Claude Rouget has won this race five times, most recently in 2016, and is represented by Prix Marcel Boussac third Flighty Lady, the biggest danger to Emoji according to the bookmakers.

Rouget said: "It's no bad thing that we've had extra time with her because she took a while to come to hand. The last three weeks she has been better and I expect her to run okay. It's difficult to know as it will be her first run for me."

Passefontaine may not have won in two starts but boasts decent placed form and rates as a lively each-way alternative to the top two.

Her trainer, Myriam Bollack-Badel, said: "I was very happy to get going early with her because she is a good filly on the sand. Of course I didn't know we would be stopped for two months.

"It's her first start on turf but I'm not worried on that score. I think she has gained mentally from her two runs and I expect a good performance."

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