Blue Rose Cen, Mqse de Sevigne Lead Prix d'Ispahan

The Prix d'Ispahan (G1) is the polar opposite of the Prix de la Foret (G1) in terms of the European pattern; its 9 1/4-furlong trip may be unique, but there does not appear to be a huge population of group 1 horses crying out for an intermediate distance between its more conventional neighbors at a mile and 1 1/4 miles. That can sometimes lead to a less-than-enthralling vintage, but the eight-runner line-up here boasts four individual group 1 winners. Four editions since 2010 have gone to fillies and mares and it's striking the France Galop handicapper rates Blue Rose Cen (IRE) and Mqse de Sevigne (IRE) better than their rivals even before their three-pound sex allowance comes into play. With an official rating of 118, Blue Rose Cen shades Mqse de Sevigne by a pound but will be making her first start since winning the Prix de l'Opera (G1) here last October. Mqse de Sevigne had plenty go against her when giving weight away in the Prix Jacques Laffitte, but showed she retains all her ability when she finally got in the clear. "I was pleased with her comeback," said trainer Andre Fabre. "The long-term plan is to run her over further with a view to the Arc. We'll go for this race, then Deauville before Longchamp. It's a good race against the colts, but she's in good shape and she'll run very well." The pair boast six group 1 victories between them but all have been against their own sex and there is not a shortage of talent on the side of the colts and geldings if you are so minded to take them on for that reason. Marhaba Ya Sanafi (IRE) has looked as good as ever in three starts this season and any horse who can push Tribalist (GB) close over a mile at his favored Saint-Cloud has to be taken seriously, making last season's French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner an interesting alternative to the two fillies. A drying sun is likely to bring the going round to somewhere approaching souple (soft) on the penetrometer, and the GoingStick could be no worse than good to soft by race time, which would be a plus for Horizon Dore (FR) in his quest to reverse placings. Pauline Chehboub, racing manager to Gousserie Racing, owners of Horizon Dore, said, "the more the track dries out, the better, as we can't wait to see him back on better ground. He's in fantastic physical shape."