Andre Fabre hoping to tee up Dewhurst tilt with Newmarket runner Trident

Trident will line up for Andre Fabre in Thursday's Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket, looking to build on his fine second-placed effort behind Perfect Power in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

While there have been many more grave issues to worry about during the pandemic, one inescapable fact within racing has been the near absence of runners in Britain hailing from the top French yards.

Fabre sent one horse to Britain throughout 2020 — a winning trip to Sandown for Magny Cours – and Trident will be just his second starter this term following Duhail's fourth in the Sussex Stakes.

Of potentially more significance than the easing of transport difficulties is that Trident is among a hugely promising crop of two-year-olds housed with Fabre.

The son of Wootton Bassett represents the Coolmore partners, as does Prix des Chenes winner Ancient Rome, meaning the 30-time champion trainer has two exciting colts he will be keen to keep apart this autumn.

"The Dewhurst could be an option for Trident and Ancient Rome will go for the Lagardere," said Fabre, reviving memories of previous Newmarket heroes Zafonic, Pennekamp and Xaar.

The strength of the Fabre juvenile squad is demonstrated by the fact that neither Trident nor Ancient Rome is the most talked about of his two-year-olds.

That honour belongs to Juddmonte's homebred Raclette in the wake of a second impressive success at Chantilly last Friday, after which winning jockey Maxime Guyon wasn't quick to dismiss the notion that the daughter of Frankel was the best of her generation in France.

Raclette will be among the favourites for the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp a week on SundayCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Fabre is also eyeing the Sunday of Arc weekend and a promotion from conditions race to Group 1 for Raclette.

"The plan [before Chantilly] was for her was to run in the Prix Marcel Boussac and she had a relatively easy race so it worked out well," said Fabre. "I was keen to give her some more experience.

"She's done nothing wrong so far and has shown that she has a lot of class. On top of that she has a lot of charm. She is good-looking, she is easy to ride and sweet."

This year's Classic crop has not quite hit the heights, with Prix de Diane place-getters Philomene and Burgarita failing to enhance their Arc claims in the Prix Vermeille this month.

Fabre said: "Philomene came back with a twisted ankle and she is resting at the farm. I will discuss with the owners whether we will run Burgarita at the Arc meeting or not. She is not a Group winner so I'm tempted to skip the Arc meeting and go for something like the Prix Flore."

Burgarita was beaten only two and a quarter lengths by Teona and her price ranges between 14-1 and 40-1 for the Arc, although she also has entries in the fillies-only Prix de Royallieu and Prix de l'Opera on the same weekend.

Read more . . .

Unexposed local ace Sealiway on target for grand return in Arc next week (Members' Club)

Arc possible Raabihah may bypass big race in favour of Prix de Royallieu bid (Members' Club)

'I'm hoping he'll become a Group 1 horse' – Ghiani excited by big-race chances

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday