Raclette a non-runner as Agartha takes on pair of Fabre fillies

Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Group 1) | 2yo fillies | 1m | Sky

Raclette was made a non-runner on Sunday morning but Andre Fabre still fields two, with Godolphin filly Fleur D'Iris ahead of Zellie in the market.

Oisin Murphy takes the ride on the latter, who has a length and a half to find on Fleur D'Iris from their meeting in the Prix d'Aumale.

Fabre said: "Zellie and Fleur D'Iris are two good fillies and they both have decent chances. Fleur D'Iris might be the tougher of the two, whereas Zellie's style of racing makes life a bit difficult, though she is very good as well."

Agartha has been a model of consistency during a busy campaign and comes here in fine heart after chasing home Discoveries in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last month.

Without doubt the best bred filly in the line-up is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Natasha, a Frankel half-sister to Almanzor, while Ryan Moore is back onboard Oscula for the first time since she won the Prix Six Perfections at Deauville.

Acer Alley went into plenty of notebooks after beating the colts in the Group 3 Prix la Rochette over seven furlongs and is likely to be delivered late by Olivier Peslier.

What they say

Christophe Ferland, trainer of Times Square
She's really well and comes into the race in fine form. She's already been placed at Listed level and so we're giving this a go. It's a good challenge and the ground is not at all against her, while she's drawn well in the middle. She can be ridden handily and then we'll see what she can do in the straight. It's the first race on a fresh strip of turf and it'll be after the juvenile races that the ground will begin to deteriorate.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Agartha
She's been running really well all year. This looks a very good race but she's in great form and we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on in this. She has form on good ground and a softer surface so she's quite versatile with regard to the going.

Agartha: has had a fine seasonCredit: Patrick McCann

Francis Graffard, trainer of Acer Alley
She's had four weeks since the Group 3 which is perfect and she's a filly I've always thought a lot of. It's the right race for her and if the ground gets soft that won't be problem for her. In terms of staying the trip, a lot will depend on how fast they go. She's becoming easier to ride and I don't expect the extra 200 metres to catch her out.

Nick Bradley, syndicate manager for Oscula
We had her in the Lagardere and this race until Wednesday. I think the track will suit her, I spoke to George [Boughey] the day after the Rockfel and she was bucking and kicking. You can never be 100 per cent certain but all the signs look good.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Natasha
She's an exceptionally bred filly who has won her last two starts well. She very much deserves her chance and hopefully there won't be too much rain overnight. She'll handle the ground as it is now but we'll have to find out about that if it gets worse.

Stephane Wattel, trainer of Who Knows
I didn't want to rush her back after winning at Deauville and, having won a Group 3, she didn't have too many options. This is the logical next step. We've worked towards this longer trip in the mornings and she's answered the question so far. Very soft ground shouldn't bother her.

Sunday's race previews:

1.50 Longchamp: why Andre Fabre's race record means we should take note of his Lagardere runner

3.05 Longchamp: the lowdown on Adayar, Tarnawa and more in the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

3.05 Longchamp: a blue day in Paris? Keith Melrose assesses who will come out on top in the Arc (Members' Club)

3.50 Longchamp: James Fanshawe letting Audarya's jockey 'get on with it' from low Opera draw

4.25 Longchamp: 'She's been there and done it' – Glass Slippers camp bullish before Abbaye bid

5.00 Longchamp: I've been trying to get Space Blues in the race for three years – Charlie Appleby

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