Laurens lands Prix Rothschild to leave Burke dreaming of more Group 1 glory

Winning Group 1s never gets old and, after going three starts without finding her way back to the number-one spot, Laurens put in a typically dominant display under PJ McDonald to make it career success number six at that rarified summit of the racing pyramid.

Just as typically, having blown the race apart shortly after halfway, she began to idle inside the final furlong and allowed With You to close to within half a length, though there was never a moment when the drama of defeat really loomed.

Trainer Karl Burke didn't realise the diminished nature of Laurens' success until watching the replay having mentally banked the result at the furlong marker.

Asked if there might be improvement to come after a hold-up had forced a brief pause in her campaign, Burke was in no hurry to dismiss the idea.

He said: "I would say so. People will say she was tying up in front but she never does a lot in front, she does it every race. She goes and does her job and then in the last 100 yards she's half pulling up. You could see coming in here she's not over-stressed and not over-blowing.

"Thankfully we made that decision and gave her an extra week of recuperation because that has paid dividends. The last two and a half weeks have gone very smoothly and my one slight doubt today was that last gallop. I wouldn't have minded another week and another gallop."

All fillies kept in training from three to four face the question of whether they have stood still or even regressed, but Burke said neither he nor owner John Dance had ever entertained such a question despite defeat against the boys in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne.

Laurens lands the Prix Rothschild from With YouCredit: racing.com Staff

"At the beginning of the year we actually thought she was stronger and faster, and her work in the spring was brilliant," said Burke.

"We probably could have got another five per cent out of her going into the Lockinge, but we'd had a long discussion all winter with John and we felt from two to three she had a very early start with the Guineas and it told on her at the end of the year.

"We wanted to finish the year well and hopefully that's still the plan with maybe the Breeders' Cup."

That remains a realistic aim for the brilliant Laurens, who also has dates in the Group 1 Matron and Sun Chariot should you be planning a pilgrimage to watch her in the flesh.

Burke and Dance will also discuss the possibility of going back up to a mile and a quarter for the Prix Jean Romanet – a race the trainer won four years ago with Odeliz – back at Deauville in three weeks time.

Should that be the choice then she could renew her rivalry with With You, who similarly is being considered for a step back up to a trip over which she narrowly gave second best to Laurens in the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane last year.

"I was a bit worried after her poor comeback, but I'm delighted with her run today," said With You's trainer Freddy Head. "She was a bit caught for speed throughout the race but she finished really well and is ready to stretch out again, so we'll aim at the Prix Jean Romanet."

Obligate ran on to be third after appearing to resent Pierre-Charles Boudot's attempts at restraint, while East was the next best of the British-trained quintet, fading late but far from disgraced in fifth.

Trainer Kevin Ryan said: "Ryan [Moore] said she just ran a touch keen with him and as he went to win the race it's cost her. He felt that maybe if he'd ridden her to be placed she could have been in the first three. She was a bit fresh but she has run a good race."

Earthlight impresses in Cabourg stroll

Prix de Cabourg (Group 3) 2yo | 6f

Andre Fabre may have unearthed a serious rival to the expected strong visiting challenge ahead of the Darley Prix Morny in three weeks time.

Earthlight was two from two before this traditional trial for the only juvenile Group 1 of the Deauville summer and readily dismissed two extremely useful yardsticks from across the English Channel in Well Of Wisdom and Norfolk Stakes third, Dubai Station.

The winning margin was four lengths and Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane raffard was just as impressed as many of the observers who crowded around the winners’ enclosure to take a second look at the son of Shamardal

Graffard said: "He hasn't stopped improving and had got sharper with each race. He's got a great temperament and he has taken it all in his stride.

"I was really impressed by his physique today and his two races obviously haven't taken much out of him. Andre will discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed but if all goes well, it is possible he could line up for the Darley Prix Morny."

Fabre was also in the winners' enclosure earlier in the day when Delaware ran away with the Listed Prix de Tourgeville under Vincent Cheminaud.

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