Analysis and quotes as Raabihah bids to boost Arc claims in Prix Vermeille

3.35 Longchamp
Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ fillies and mares | SKY

When Fancy Blue, Alpine Star and Peaceful filled the first three places in the Prix de Diane, Irish fans might have struggled to parse the worth of the form. Raabihah was a head behind in fourth, with a significant gap back to the rest. Did that mean anything? Those who had a bit of a steer on French racing this year had an answer: four good fillies, not a lot besides.

That has largely been borne out in subsequent results, including Raabihah's impressive Group 3 win at Deauville last month. The high regard in which she is held has been an open secret in France for a lot longer. She first caught the eye when winning a Listed race here in May, for which she was sent off even-money on the back of just a maiden win at Cagnes in January.

Now the roles have been reversed from the Diane. The Vermeille is all about seeing what Raabihah can do relative to fillies that will be familiar to British and Irish fans. Even So won the Irish Oaks, but that is not working out as favourably as the Diane. Dame Malliot blew her previous shot at a Group 1 in Germany, having earned that with a win in the Princess of Wales's Stakes.

Ed Vaughan with his stable star Dame MalliotCredit: Edward Whitaker

In common with other middle-distance races this season, the Vermeille looks deep, but not especially strong. Only with victory will Raabihah confirm her position as the leading home-trained hope for next month's Arc.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Whattheysay

Dermot Weld, trainer of Tarnawa
It's always a great race but our filly is in very good form. She put up an excellent performance at Cork and has won four Group races, so she's entitled to take part. Christophe Soumillon has his first ride for me and we're expecting a good run.

Alain de Royer-Dupre, trainer of Valia
She should certainly be more at ease on good ground and the more galloping nature of a track like Longchamp should be in her favour, whereas Deauville is a bit tight. This is the best field she has run against but to me she seems in better form than before the Minerve. Christophe Soumillon had the choice of the two Aga Khan fillies and went with Tarnawa, while Gerald Mosse knows her very well having won a Listed race here.

Christophe Soumillon: jockey has picked Tarnawa over ValiaCredit: Francois Nel

Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Raabihah
I’m going into the race with optimism. I think she’ll take to the distance – you can never be 100 per cent sure beforehand – and she's a very good filly. She's not all that demonstrative in the mornings and always works below the level of the rest but she’s well.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Laburnum
She's improving hand over fist every day. She ran well at Deauville on ground she didn't like. The ground will hopefully be much better for her and we think she can put in a much-improved run.

David Menuisier, trainer of Wonderful Tonight
It’s a good race but it has cut up a bit. We respect the opposition and the ground isn't her ideal. But the filly is really well and I would expect her to run a good race. I don’t know if it will be tactical but I hope for a bit of pace. I felt she needed the run when she was beaten at Longchamp and she improved as we saw when she reversed the form with Valia at Deauville.

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