Henry de Bromhead bids for first Group 1 with 'improving' Term Of Endearment in Prix de Royallieu

At a meeting where freshness often pays dividends, Term Of Endearment will have just her third start of what has been, thus far, a perfect season.

A Group 3 winner at four last August, Henry de Bromhead then sent her to the Group 1 Fillies and Mares last October at Ascot, one of the few disappointing efforts of the lightly raced daughter of Sea The Moon's career.

This year's wins in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York and the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood have come over this 1m6f trip, while Alexis Pouchin won on his first ride for De Bromhead at Longchamp aboard Higher Leaves last month.

The drying ground should also help Mistral Star, who handled the step up from Listed winner to Group 1 well enough when fourth to Content in the Yorkshire Oaks.

William Haggas bids for a hat-trick in a race that was only upped in distance and grade in 2019 and, as in the last two years, relies on a daughter of Sea The Stars.

Sea Theme has a length and a quarter to find with Mistral Star on their meeting at York, and is another that will be pleased Paris has been spared the rain this week.

Sea Theme (centre) and One Evening (far) renew rivalry in the Prix de Royallieu at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker

The other three editions of the Group 1 version of the Royallieu have been shared by the Gosden team and David Menuisier, who are represented by One Evening and Caius Chorister.

One Evening finished only a quarter of a length behind Arc candidate Aventure in the Prix de Pomone and might have too much boot for a few of her rivals if the race is anything other than truly run.

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Term Of Endearment
I'm very happy with her going into the race. We've had this in mind since she won the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood and she keeps on improving. We're looking forward to it.

William Haggas, trainer of Sea Theme
She's a lovely filly and has been training well. She wasn't quite good enough in the Yorkshire Oaks but ran a nice race. She won't mind any cut in the ground.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Mistral Star
There has been a week of virtually no rain at Longchamp and it might dry out to what we'd call good to soft in Britain. She has good form on that type of ground in France at Saint-Cloud. It's a very competitive contest, with no standout. She could run really well and finish seventh or she might win – it's that sort of race. It will be her last chance this year. She'll probably go to stud.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Ottery
This looks the right trip for her and this is a good time of the season for her. She’s in good shape and she’s going to run a good race.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Thunder Roll
She's trained very well since her good run at Leopardstown last time. She goes there in really good form but ideally she would like plenty of rain. Whether it rains or not, it would be great if she could run into a place.

David Meniuiser trainer of Caius Chorister
We've targeted this race since she ran in the Gold Cup where she didn't get the trip. She ran very well in her trial to be second at Chester last time when she was ridden by James Doyle who liked her. She won't mind the ground and has a strong chance.

Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Rouge Sellier
She ran very well at Galway from a poor draw and is perfectly entitled to run here although I suspect she may find one or two too good. She will like the trip and ground.

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