Total Prix Marcel Boussac 2010

2.20 Longhchamp
Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Fillies' Group 1) (2YO only)
Winner €171,630

Pick: Helleborine (but if Ground improves Markedly, Misty For Me)

Helleborine: Faultless in 3 starts so far, demolishing opposition each time in Conditions, Listed and Group 3 trial for this event; Form of those events thin for the level but clearly a major classic prospect and will go on the ground, so the one to beat.

Dandream: First past the post but disqualified when stewards considered that she had stopped third-placed Temps Au Temps obtaining the best possible position Criterium du Fonds Europeen d'Elevage; Form of that race not exactly great anyway and lot more needed.

Mamibia: has won four of her six starts to date, including the Group 3 Prix du Calvados on her latest outing, following a Listed success; Needs to maintain upward curve but likely there is more to come, making her a key player.

Misty For Me: Has made huge improvement for every single run, stepping up for debut with win in maiden, and reversing form with Laughing Lashes to grab all the way win in Moyalre; Form been given a big boost by Together’s close second in Fillies’ Mile (split 2 class acts) and major player if handling soft (Gaileo did, and she has won once on yielding).

Nitza: Has had her imitations exposed since a gritty AW maiden success in July, having been beaten by both Helleborine and Dandream; Little chance.

Rainbow Springs: Selkirk Fillies’ Mile entry who is a half-sister to useful juvenile Ridge Dance; Was given a very tough task on debut when thrashed by Frankel, and while she should improve for it, this may be too much too son, as she would hardly have learned an awful lot from being thrashed there.

Galikova: Half-sister to great mare Goldikova out of Gaileo, so no surprise to see her unextended to beat Sharmadanse here on debut a fortnight ago; Obvious progress can be expected and fascinating prospect, especially as maiden winners have very strong record in this.

Miss Fifty: Improved second in Group 3 last time, Maxime Guyon on board and did run into one of France’s better juveniles in Broox but still a maiden and was convincingly beaten by Marimba anyway. So presumably not going to be making impact.

VERDICT: Galikova could be anything at this moment, while the Moyglare winner Misty For Me is the suggested pick if the ground gets better (soft in other words) but HELLEBORINE is serious classic material, will go through the ground and is very hard to oppose on home turf, especially while the ground stays like this. It’s notable how much John Gosden thinks of Rainbow Springs to enter her in this after beating thrashed by Frankel.