Fabre unleashes Raclette with a warning to punters as Classic hopeful returns

Sunday: Longchamp
2.50: Prix de la Grotte (Group 3) | 1m | 3yo fillies | Sky

3.25: Prix de Fontainebleau (Group 3) | 1m | 3yo colts and geldings | Sky

Andre Fabre has warned one of the year's most hyped French three-year-olds will not be given a hard time on her seasonal reappearance as he explained why some have mistakenly come to believe he considers Raclette the finest filly he has trained.

Two juvenile outings yielded two impressive victories for Juddmonte's homebred daughter of Frankel and she now returns in a strong running of the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte.

However, her legendary trainer admitted he considers Raclette a better prospect for the Prix de Diane than the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches based on his expectation she will improve when taken beyond a mile.

Fabre – who confirmed his intention for Prix Imprudence runner-up Zellie to contest the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 1 – has this year been keen to call on the services of former stable jockey Oliver Peslier.

They team up again in a Grotte that also features Times Square – second to Zellie in the Marcel Boussac – and Group 3 winners Acer Alley, Mangoustine and Rosacea, who has a 1,000 Guineas entry.

Raclette makes her three-year-old return at Longchamp on SundayCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"People have been very excited about Raclette but that's because I was supposed to have declared she is the best filly I've ever trained," Fabre added.

"I never actually said that to anyone and if I did was only a joke. It was just a rumour, really, but you know what people are like – they get excited.

"We'll partly be able to answer how good she is on Sunday, but I see her more as a mile-and-a-quarter filly than a miler. She isn't going to be given a very hard time in Sunday's race, that's for sure. She will be ridden hands and heels."

"I'm expecting her to run a good race. Ten days ago she was carrying a winter coat and I thought she was looking slow to come out of the winter, but in the last week I've been quite happy with her. She is now okay and ready to run a nice race, but if there are some fitter fillies she might be beaten."

Andre Fabre has been keen to call on the services of Olivier Peslier this springCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Peslier has also been booked for the ride on the Coolmore-owned Ancient Rome, a twice Group 1-placed performer who is joined by stable companion Mathletic in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

"Ancient Rome is a nice colt who has done well," said Fabre. "He has grown nicely and looks good. He will be going the Classic route for the Poule d'Essai and then the Jockey Club. Mathletic has a lot of class but is still a bit backward and weak."

Fabre and Peslier seem likely to join forces again at Newmarket with Zellie, a best-priced 12-1 for the Guineas.

Fabre, successful in the 2014 1,000 Guineas with Miss France, said: "The plan at the moment is for Zellie to run at Newmarket if all goes well."

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