Shes Perfect just denied Prix de la Grotte glory

Charlie Fellowes was bursting with pride after seeing Shes Perfect push star French filly Zarigana close in the Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp.

Zarigana looked a potential superstar in the making after winning her first two juvenile starts for Francis-Henri Graffard, but suffered a nose defeat at the hands of her stablemate Vertical Blue when stepped up to Group One level for the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend in October.

She was again an odds-on favourite for her return at Group Three level and travelled strongly throughout in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, while Shes Perfect was free in the early stages and was soon bowling along in front under Kieran Shoemark.

It looked a question of how far Zarigana would win by when she produced with her challenge racing inside the final two furlongs, but Shes Perfect refused to go down without a fight and as there was only a neck between the pair at the line, Fellowes is eyeing a potential rematch in next month’s French 1000 Guineas – the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

“It was a fantastic run, especially as I think that everything that could go wrong did go wrong,” the Newmarket handler said of the filly, who is owned by a syndicate established by social media influencer Basher Watts.

“We did not intend to lead and I think she did plenty in front, but the way she stuck to the line, put her head out and made a very, very good filly fight was really encouraging.

“When they turned into the straight I thought ‘God, we’re a sitting duck here’, but she’s got the heart of a lion, she’s talented and I think she loved that ground as well – being able to get her toe in a bit helps her.

“I think we’ll probably come back for the French Guineas, I don’t see why not. She’s entered, so we don’t have to supplement her or anything like that, and I’d take the winner on again. She’s very good, but we’ve been beaten a neck and I think she warrants a trip back here in May.”

Shes Perfect is owned by a syndicate led by social media influencer Basher Watts and Fellowes added: “Basher and the rest of the guys are absolutely over the moon.

“It’s a great story, 90 per cent of the people in that syndicate have never owned any part of a racehorse before and Bash is doing a great job. He’s bringing people into the sport, which is what we need, and he’s got his hands on quite a good filly.”

Paddy Power make Zarigana their 6-4 favourite for the Pouliches, while she is a 16-1 shot with the same firm for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: “With this filly there is so much expectation and it’s a shame we have a bit of pressure.

“Mickael said as soon as she saw daylight she changed gear very strongly and as soon as she hit the front she stopped, so that is why he had to touch her a little bit to get the job done today.

“She needed mentally to come back to the races big time, so I’m glad everything went well for her and we’ll regroup and have her spot-on for the big one (French Guineas).”

The French 2000 Guineas is on the agenda for the Mikel Delzangles-trained Ridari after swooping fast and late to claim Group Three honours in the Prix de Fontainebleau.

A winner on his second and final juvenile start at Chantilly in November, the Churchill colt faced a rise in class on his three-year-old debut, but quickened up smartly for Barzalona to get up and beat Sahlan by a nose.

Delzangles said: “I’m very pleased because he’s not an easy horse – he can be quite keen. The jockey really gets on well with him and gave him a really good prep race.

“We know how he behaves, but he’s able to deal with that and even if he was a bit keen, he managed to breeze and to quicken to finish.

“It’s a good lesson and a good prep race for the big one in four weeks.”

Barzalona made it a Group Three treble on the card and a four-timer overall by steering Christophe Ferland’s Uther to victory in the Prix Noailles.

Ferland said: “It’s very good to win today. The horse was fit, but he will progress and he’s a very nice horse from a nice family.

“The horse will do a mile and a half easily.”