Appleby under no Illusion brilliant filly can complete G1 treble

It is rare to see fillies capable of sustained consistency at the highest level, and when one comes along, the trainer knows he should count his blessings.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby knows well he had good fortune on his side when Wild Illusion joined his yard at Moulton Paddocks.

The three-year-old filly, by Dubawi out of the staying mare Rumh, has excelled, having never been out of the first four in seven starts and numbering among her wins, the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and the G1 Nassau Stakes.

Now she is ready to notch a third G1 victory, in Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp, over a mile and a quarter, and the trainer is highly optimistic.

Appleby said: “She’s not been seen since the Nassau at Goodwood, but her prep has gone well and she again runs over her optimum trip.

“I’m relaxed about the ground — she’s run well on Good to Firm and Good to Soft — and she’s got a nice draw. I think she will acquit herself well,” he added.

Saeed bin Suroor will saddle in the same race the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner Winter Lightning, a half-sister to Thunder Snow.

“She didn’t like the ground when she was beaten at Yarmouth, but she has come out of that race in good form, and she is ready for Paris. We would like some rain,” he added.

Appleby will try to win the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac for the third successive year — this time he saddles Ceratonia, an Oasis Dream half-sister to last year’s winner Wild Illusion.

“She’s got a similar profile to her older half-sister. She’s had the experience of going to Longchamp, and she would appreciate some cut in the ground. We’ll remove the hood this time to make her a bit sharper. A repeat of her best form would make her competitive,” he added.

In the same race, Saeed saddles Dubai Beauty, who was well beaten at Doncaster last time. “We couldn’t find any reason for her disappointing run, but she’s in good form and we will send her back to the races and give her another chance,” Saeed said.

Saeed saddles Royal Marine in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, which could be more of an exploratory mission. “It’s a big jump up in class for him, but I think he has a lot of quality, and we will see if he measures up,” the trainer commented.

Godolphin has three runners in the G1 Prix de la Foret — the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection and the André Fabre-trained Inns Of Court and Jimmy Two Times.

Fabre said: “Inns Of Court ran a very good trial for this in the Prix du Pin, when carrying a penalty from an outside draw. But the competition is tougher here. He’s a classy horse on his day and we’re hopeful of a good run.

“Jimmy Two Times has had a good break since his last race in July, and he’s coming to this fresh and well. He ran well in this race as a three-year-old and he’s been remarkably consistent. This is a competitive race but he should give a good account of himself,” Fabre added.