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Preview: Prix Jean Romanet.
Established in 2004, the G1 Prix Jean Romanet (2000m) is a recent addition to the French racing calendar. It was created to encourage fillies and mares to remain in training rather than go to stud after their Classic campaign. We look at this year's line-up.
Ebaiyra
Third in the G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m) in October 2020, Ebaiyra has improved during her four-year old campaign and achieved a Group Two success in the Prix Corrida (2100m). She has since finished runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m) and returns to 2000m for the first time since her win in the G3 Prix Allez France (2000m).
Lady Bowthorpe
Lady Bowthorpe burst onto the scene with a second behind Palace Pier in the G1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m) at Newbury in May. She ran with credit in Group 1600m events subsequently and achieved a career-best performance when winning the G1 Nassau Stakes (1980m) at Glorious Goodwood and is capable of a big effort.
Insinuendo
Isinuendo remains unexposed after five racecourse starts. She was a useful fourth in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m) and enjoyed a drop back in class when scoring by one and a half lengths in the G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes (1800m). Has the ability to sneak a place.
Grand Glory
Grand Glory is a very experienced performer who finished third in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) in 2019. She has picked up plenty of prize money since and returned to winning ways in Group company when scoring by two lengths in the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy (2000m), however would need to improve to win.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne Pepper has featured in some of the best races in the calendar and placed second in the G1 Irish Oaks (2400m) as a three-year-old. She has only had two starts in 2021 and is potentially still improving after a third in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m).
Thundering Nights
Thundering Nights is aiming to uphold her winning form in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m) with re-opposing rivals. She has proven capable of big efforts at Group level in all three starts in 2021 and continues to progress. Her second in the G2 New York Stakes (2000m) at Belmont Park (USA) indicates travelling is not a problem.
Eudaimonia
Eudaimonia is trying her luck against considerably tougher opposition after a fourth in the Listed Prix du Pays d'Auge (1800m) at Clairefontaine. She has not shown the same level of form as her opponents and may struggle.
Ambition
Ambition returns to female only company after a sixth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2400m on seasonal reappearance. In 2020 she picked up a Group Two and Group Three event but probably falls short of Group One company.
Audarya
Winner of this race in 2020, Audarya enjoyed an excellent 2020 season culminating in a hard-fought victory in the G1 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf (1900m). Arguably she has the best form in the race but has not shone in the same way this year and was last seen finishing fifth behind Lady Bowthorpe in the G1 Nassau Stakes (2000m) at Glorious Goodwood.