Qemah out to prove she remains Queen of Deauville for Rouget

Prix Rothschild (Group 1) | 1m, 3yo+ fillies & mares | ATR/RUK

Qemah completed a Royal Ascot-Deauville double in this race 12 months ago and will be a warm order to repeat that here, having landed the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes last month.

With regular partner Gregory Benoist still sidelined after fracturing a vertebra when falling at Saint-Cloud last month, Cristian Demuro takes the reins on Qemah, who looked more relaxed at Ascot than sometimes previously had been the case.

With the jockeys in the Duke of Cambridge all convinced the place to be was down the stands' rail, Mickael Barzalona found himself behind a wall of horses and was able to get a run on Usherette only once Qemah had hit the front, running on to finish third.

Having chased home Winter in the Coronation Stakes, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Roly Poly might not have needed to take much of a step forward in landing a first Group 1 prize at Newmarket three weeks ago but arrives here commanding plenty of respect.

The Falmouth Stakes-Prix Rothschild double has been completed by Goldikova (2009), Elusive Kate (2013) and Amazing Maria (2015) in recent seasons.

Persuasive became a revelation last summer and suffered her only defeat when stepped up to Group 1 company in the Matron Stakes, splitting Alice Springs and Qemah in second.

She hasn't been seen since and we have yet to see evidence as to how she has handled what can sometimes be a problematic transition from three to four for fillies.

Realtra produced her best performance in more than two interrupted years when scoring at Fairyhouse last time and was beaten less than three lengths on her last attempt at Group 1 level in September 2015.

Arabian Hope finished third to Roly Poly in a Falmouth dominated by three-year-olds, an age group also represented by Via Ravenna - winner of the Prix Imprudence in April - and Dame Du Roi.

Despite plenty of threatening clouds the ground was officially good on Saturday, with no worse than the lightest of showers forecast before race time.

What they say

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Qemah
She can be a bit tricky and it's the first time Cristian has ridden her in a race, but there’s not much anyone can do about that.

Chris Richardson, racing manager to Cheveley Park Stud, owner of Persuasive
She's taken a while to come to herself - we wanted to run her at Ascot but the ground wasn't suitable. We've now got the ground we want and John Gosden is very happy with her.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Usherette and Via Ravenna
I'm happy with Usherette in every respect and she's going to run well. I'm not that sure about the distance for Via Ravenna and I think seven furlongs would be ideal. This might be a bit far for her but we'll maybe settle and come late and see what happens.

Satoshi Kobayashi, trainer of Furia Cruzada
She's been very lively in the mornings and I hope we might get some rain for her over this trip, although the forecast looks like it may have gone against her.

Roger Varian, trainer of Realtra
Realtra is in great form and while this is a step up in grade following her Group 3 win earlier in the month, the course will suit and she ought to acquit herself very creditably.

Freddy Head, trainer of Siyoushake and Dame Du Roi
I expect Siyoushake to run well and any rain would suit. Dame Du Roi is a very good filly who had a few problems at the start of the year. She ran well on her comeback and although she's now taking on better horses I think she'll run well.

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Arabian Hope
Arabian Hope ran well to finish third on her first appearance in a Group 1 race at Newmarket and has done well since. She's in good form.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Roly Poly
I couldn't be happier with her. She came out of her win in the Falmouth well and we've been very happy with her since. The ground is good there at the moment, and the better it is the greater her chance. She's a lovely filly by War Front and loves good ground.