The racing world will be watching as Verry Elleegant takes to the European stage

Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1) | 4yo+ fillies & mares | 1m2f | SKY

With the greatest respect to the Ebor and the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh, in terms of a global audience there is one racing story that rises above all others on the international stage this weekend.

The European debut of Australia's darling Verry Elleegant in partnership with Frankie Dettori is a major event, not just for the impact it could have on the Arc picture but because the very idea of taking last year's Melbourne Cup heroine to the other side of the world rather than entertain her adoring public at the Melbourne Spring Carnival has filled endless column inches in Australia.

Trainer Francis Graffard has been upbeat in his reports about the seven-year-old's progress since she arrived in Chantilly and is much happier with her form now than before what was originally scheduled to be her first start on August 2 in the Prix Rothschild over a mile.

He said: "She's really picked up in the last three weeks and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to go to the races with her and with the wide draw and it being her first time in Europe, we'll probably see her finishing nicely."

Regarding the link-up with Dettori, Graffard added: "I saw him at Goodwood and I was looking for a top-class jockey for Verry Elleegant. He was available and is very excited by the prospect."

Verry Elleegant is the only Group 1 winner in the line-up – she has 11 top-level successes to her name in Australia – and the biggest threat could come from stablemate Ebaiyra, who has made the frame in both the Hong Kong Vase and last month's Grosser Dallmayr Preis.

Graffard said of the Aga Khan five-year-old: "So far she's been a little bit shy of Group 1 level but she's in good form. I've put some cheekpieces on her as she was a little bit caught out when they sprinted in Germany last time. She'll have her favoured good ground."

Ville De Grace out to give Stoute a first Romanet

Eight of the 18 runnings of this race since its inauguration in 2004 have been won by fillies trained in Britain but Sir Michael Stoute has yet to add it to his CV.

Ville De Grace is matched with Ebaiyra to the pound on their run in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in May but will be making her belated Group 1 debut after being withdrawn before the start of the Nassau.

Ville De Grace (yellow sleeves) and Ebaiyra (emereald green silks) will renew rivalry in the Prix Jean RomanetCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"She had to have a stalls test after not going in at Goodwood but all is well with her," Stoute said. "She did very well in the second half of the season last year and is in good shape. It looks an open race."

What they say

Carlos Laffon-Parias, trainer of Rumi
We've taken our time with her. She's going back up in grade but this has always been the objective.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Burgarita
I think she'll run well as she usually does but it's not an easy race. She has pleased me and I just hope there will be some pace in the race because I'd like her to come from a bit further back.

Alex Pantall, trainer of Sundoro
She has come out of her race at Vichy well and while that was a Group 3, we think this is worth a crack. I think she's still improving.

Elizabeth Roberts, owner of Aristia
Her race at Ascot was a great disappointment but she wasn’t quite right. At Goodwood she looked amazing. It wasn’t a surprise to me at all that she ran as well as she did. Nashwa is top-class and we were giving her 9lb.

Sunday's race previews:

1.33 Deauville: O'Brien holds the aces as exciting Blackbeard bids to build on Chantilly promise

4.00 Naas: British challenge may hold the key to tricky Ballyogan Stakes puzzle

4.12 Sandown: 'He loves Sandown and is in top form' - which trainer hopes for a bold show?

6.42 Sandown: Can Keith Dalgleish sign off in style in the Sunday Series finale at Sandown?

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