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La Cressonniere team unfazed by Arc distance

3 minute read

Connections of star French filly La Cressonniere feel she would have no trouble staying 12 furlongs in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The daughter of Le Havre, who won the 2009 French Derby for the same owners and Jean-Claude Rouget, added the Prix de Diane to her success in the French 1000 Guineas and remained unbeaten in the process.

It capped a memorable spell for Rouget, who also won the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) with Almanzor, also owned by Ecurie Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand like La Cressonniere, and saddled a Royal Ascot winner in Qemah.

Sylvain Vidal, racing manager for Augustin-Normand, said: "It is too soon to say where you will see her next, we just want to enjoy the Diane win first.

"Obviously we were very happy, she won easy and showed a good turn of foot.

"The jockey (Cristian Demuro) was very impressed by her.

"We need to talk to Jean-Claude, it is a bit soon to say what's next but she won going away over 10 furlongs and I think she would easily stay 12.

"I hope we can go for the Arc but it all needs to be discussed.

"It was great that we could manage all this with a daughter of Le Havre, who won us the Jockey Club."

Vidal added: "It has been an amazing few weeks what with Almanzor winning, too.

"He might run in the Jacques le Marois, we'll see, he could stay at 10 furlongs, there's the race in October (Champion Stakes), obviously.

"It's a bit early to say and both will have a little break now, there's no rush, we can just enjoy.