Royer-Dupre harbours big ambitions for unbeaten Valia after Listed Longchamp win

Valia looks a filly who might take high rank this autumn on the evidence of a comprehensive defeat of more experienced rivals in the Listed Prix de Thiberville at Longchamp on Thursday.

On the evidence of recent weeks French turfistes might have feared a strong-looking trio of British challengers, and trainer David Menuisier and owner Chris Wright will have been thrilled with the performance of Wonderful Tonight in second.

But to judge by his words following a two and a half length success under old sparring partner Gerald Mosse, trainer Alain Royer-Dupre would have been disappointed had Valia - a daughter of 2014 French 1,000 Guineas runner-up Veda - not made it two from two.

"We knew that if she confirmed what we thought of her she would be hard to beat," said Royer-Dupre, who along with everyone else has had to change long-held habits this season. "She is the first horse I have ever entered in the Arc before she had even run.

"She has everything you love to see in a horse, she is a beautiful deep-bodied build and mentally she is pretty calm compared to her mother, who was very good over 1,600 metres [a mile]. She is a very interesting filly."

Jockey Mosse has made Italy his base for the first part of this season, but with the main spring races now over and done with there, is spending a rare summer in his native France.

With the Aga Khan's first jockey Christophe Soumillon serving a one-day whip suspension, Mosse had the chance to reaffirm age-old links with both the emerald green silks and Royer-Dupre.

Alain de Royer-Dupre (right) is eager to hear the impressions of Gerald Mosse after Valia puts up an impressive performance on only her second start in the Listed Prix de Thiberville at LongchampCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"The idea is to aim her at the Prix Vermeille but there is the question of where to run her in between, because the Minerve is at Deauville and I am not a fan of the round course there," said Royer-Dupre.

Asked if the Darley Yorkshire Oaks could be an ambitious alternative, he said: "She is still young and Gerald said that she was still a little nervous. The great thing about the jockey is that he looked after her during the race and gave her time to understand what was happening.

"I think she has learned a major lesson and he is of course a great jockey. We've won getting on for 20 Group 1s together and it makes things much easier when you understand one another so well, though it’s a shame for Christophe to miss out."

Given a positive ride by Tony Piccone, Wonderful Tonight stayed on well for second while Oaks fourth Queen Daenerys filled the same place under Maxime Guyon.

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