Peslier shines as Luminate keeps unbeaten record for Head and Highclere

Prix Penelope (Group 3) 3yo fillies | 1m2½f

Luminate battled back under an ice-cool Olivier Peslier to make it three wins from three and keep alive dreams of Classic success in the Prix de Diane Longines for her Highclere syndicate owners.

The daughter of Lawman looked set for the runner-up spot when Homerique and Cristian Demuro swept past her with a furlong and a half to run but Peslier regathered Luminate before launching a decisive comeback, emerging half a length to the good at the line.

"I was a bit worried when the other one came past so quickly but Olivier said he wanted to wait," said trainer Freddy Head. "Olivier has nerves of steel and I loved the way the way she finished off her race.

"She has the the choice of the Prix Saint-Alary or coming back here for the Prix Cleopatre, which is my slight preference given she has now won on the track and it might be a little easier. After that, if everything goes well, it will be Chantilly [for the Diane]."

Homerique, who has an entry in the Investec Oaks, was having only her second start after impressing in a newcomers' race at Chantilly four weeks ago.

Speaking on behalf of her owners, bloodstock agent Laurent Benoit said: "We thought it was in the bag as Luminate was the filly to beat. It was only her second race and we were asking a lot of her but I think there is still more to come. She is entered in the Peix Saint-Alary and that looks the race we'll aim at."

Luminate is not the only Classic hopeful among Head's current crop of three-year-old fillies but she is the first to be seen on a course this spring.

With You made a huge impression when landing the Prix Reservoirs at Deauville last October and is another who has genuine pretensions for the Diane.

"With You was entered here but she hasn't yet bloomed as I would like," said Head. "With so much bad weather it has been hard but she is getting there."

Polydream found only Wild Illusion to strong in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Head is still hopeful she might make the French equivalent of the 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp on May 13.

"Polydream worked this morning but it is a little soon to say whether she will be ready in time for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches," he said. "But she's going the right way."

Polydream and Maxime Guyon storm to success in the Group 3 Prix du CalvadosCredit: Patrick McCann

Recoletos earns mile spurs

Prix du Muguet (Group 2) 4yo+ | 1m

Peslier completed a Group race double when Recoletos chased down Jimmy Two Times to score on his first start at a mile.

The son of Whipper proved himself among the best of his generation at around a mile and a quarter last season, finishing third in the Prix du Jockey Club before rounding off his year in fourth behind Cracksman in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

"I've been thinking about dropping him back in trip for a while because, if you analyse his runs last year, 2,000 metres [a mile and a quarter] is pretty much his limit," said trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. "At Ascot he looked like he was going to be second and ended up fourth.

"I didn't want to run for second on Sunday [against Cracksman] when I could come here with a realistic chance of winning and it was a case of now or never in terms of dropping him back in trip."

Recoletos has entries in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and Laffon-Parias favours sticking to shorter trips.

"The obvious next race is the Prix d'Ispahan over 1,850 metres [a mile and one and a quarter furlongs] and if that goes well then it will be the Queen Anne at Ascot."

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