Monteille on target for Royal Ascot sprint after dominant display in Prix du Gros-Chene

Mario Baratti will head to Royal Ascot with fast-improving filly Monteille after she defied odds of 29-1 to run away with the Group 3 Prix du Gros-Chene under Cristian Demuro.

Baratti said: "A lot of credit goes to to John Hammond [racing manager to Gerard Augustin-Normand] because it wasn't my idea to run. The filly worked well and he urged me to run. When she picked up she was really good.

"She really needed her comeback and she was very impressive today. We'll see how she comes out of the race but I think the owners would like to go to Ascot."

Baratti is leaning towards sticking at five furlongs, although bookmakers have the daughter of Cable Bay much shorter for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

British Champions Sprint winner Kind Of Blue threw away all chance at the start and was given little more than a strong piece of work by James Doyle after rearing in the stalls. 

Godspeed in Classic picture

A year to the day after landing the Jockey Club with Look De Vega, the father-and-son training partnership of Carlos and Yann Lerner have more Classic dreams to cherish after Godspeed outclassed her rivals to land the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham over a mile.

Godspeed put herself in the Prix de Diane reckoning with a dominant win in the Prix de Sandringham under Christophe SoumillonCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"She has a great turn of foot and Christophe Soumillon had her in the right spot to launch her," said Yann Lerner. "The professionals who study split times have said since the start of the year that she's able to run the last 600 metres [three furlongs] of her races in an exceptional time and it's just a shame she had a terrible draw in the Poule.

"She has proved she's very good and the Diane is in my mind, once I've spoken to [owner] Peter Bradley. If you have a filly that has her turn of foot and gets a nice draw, that can work out very well."

Rayevka turns on style 

On the day that Chantilly opened the reconditioned Pavillon Aga Khan in honour of her father, Princess Zahra Aga Khan was on hand to see Rayevka dominate her fellow three-year-olds in the Listed Prix Marchand D'Or.

Rayevka and Michael Barzalona return after winning the Prix Marchand D'OrCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"She has always worked like a very good filly but in her comeback run this year she pulled too hard and today the idea was to get her to drop the bit early on," said Aga Khan Studs racing manager Nemone Routh. "She's a sprinter with a late turn of foot and it's great to see her confirm in the afternoon what she shows in the morning.

"Mickael Barzalona said he could have made all on her but we wanted her to learn something. She isn't entered in the Commonwealth Cup, so we'll have to have a think about what we do."

Sunly impresses

Juddmonte have a smart middle-distance filly on their hands in Sunly, who burst clear of her rivals to land the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont in fine style.

Sunly was an extremely impressive winner of the Prix de Royaumont under Christophe SoumillonCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"She has been quite a backward filly and she took a long time to come in her coat this spring," said trainer Francis Graffard, who also sent out Rayevka. "What she has done so far has been down to her class and Christophe [Soumillon] said she has really progressed since her last start.

"She could head to Ascot for the Ribblesdale or wait for the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. It's not impossible she could run in both, but there's the option to wait until the autumn with her. She would be among the favourites for the Ribblesdale and that could be a good option."

Eagle soars for Rouget

After more than a year away from the major Paris tracks while he fought serious illness, Jean-Claude Rouget returned to Chantilly to oversee his two runners in the Prix du Jockey Club. 

Jean-Claude Rouget receives his trophy from Princess Zahra Aga Khan after Arrow Eagle's successCredit: Racing Post/Burton

While Leffard and Tipinso were unable to add to his enviable record in the Classic, there was a warm reception for Rouget after Ace Impact's half-brother, Arrow Eagle, edged a three-way thriller in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly.

"This race has been the plan since last summer and we've stuck to the route we laid out," said Rouget. "He doesn't move as well as his brother but he has a lot of heart. I'm surprised he has become as good as he has. The Arc is the target and he might have one run before."

Read these next:

'Ryan gave him a masterclass' - more Classic delight for Aidan O'Brien as Moore and Camille Pissarro deliver in French Derby 

How should Camille Pissarro be campaigned from here? 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.