Cinderella’s Dream chases another fairy tale in G1 Prix Jean Romanet

Cinderella’s Dream attempts to add G1 success in France to her top-level wins in the US and UK when she tackles the Prix Jean Romanet on Sunday, with exciting juveniles Wise Approach and My Highness also seeking major victories on the same Deauville card.

Shamardal filly Cinderella’s Dream has proved a model of consistency throughout her career, winning eight of her 12 starts and filling the runner-up spot on three occasions.

Winner of the G1 Belmont Oaks and G2 Saratoga Oaks in the US last season, the Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old was an unlucky-in-running second in November’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

She has continued to impress in the UK this term, easily winning the G2 Dahlia Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in May and gamely taking the G1 Falmouth Stakes on the July Course at the same track in July.

Charlie Appleby said: “We have been looking forward to stepping Cinderella’s Dream back up to a mile and a quarter. It was great to see her win over a mile in the Falmouth, but her best form has arguably been over further. She is very versatile in terms of ground and is probably the one to beat.”

Wise Approach represents the same trainer in the G1 Prix Morny, with the Mehmas colt stepping back up to Group company following a convincing four-length success in Newbury’s Listed Rose Bowl Stakes.

A debut winner at Ascot, Wise Approach ran another strong race at the Berkshire course’s Royal meeting when taking second in the G2 Norfolk Stakes.

Appleby said: “Wise Approach was impressive on his last performance. He needs to step up again in this company, but we feel he has the ability. The style of race and track at Deauville should suit and hopefully he gets a nice, sound surface. It is a strong field and a great race to participate in.”

Progressive filly My Highness seeks a third straight win for Andre Fabre in the G2 Prix du Calvados. Beaten a nose on debut, the daughter of Ghaiyyath got up on the line at Saint-Cloud in June before a cosy victory in a Deauville conditions race earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Sovereignty bids to join a rare group of horses to complete a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes as he looks to continue his outstanding season in the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga on Saturday.

Twenty Grand (1931), Shut Out (1942) and Thunder Gulch (1995) all completed the same sequence of wins, with Triple Crown winner Whirlaway also adding the Preakness Stakes to the streak in 1941.

Sovereignty’s dominance of the three-year-old colt division has included an historic first win for Godolphin in the G1 Kentucky Derby, with the Bill Mott-trained colt going on to post a convincing success in the G1 Belmont Stakes, run this year at Saratoga.

The Into Mischief homebred warmed up for the Travers Stakes with another Saratoga victory, cosily taking the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes – a race also won by Godolphin’s two previous Travers Stakes winners, Alpha (2012) and Essential Quality (2021).

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Bill couldn’t be happier with Sovereignty, who is in magnificent shape heading into the Travers. He was very pleased with his breeze with Fort Nelson last Saturday, his rider asked Sovereignty to pick it up as they came to the wire and got an instant response.

“Sovereignty has galloped beautifully since the weekend and all systems are go for the Travers. We are pleased to see Bracket Buster entered as he can keep the other speed horse occupied on the front end and hopefully get a decent pace in the race, unlike the Alabama last weekend.

“We are expecting a big performance from Sovereignty. Hopefully, he can confirm his status as the top three-year-old in the country and give Bill Mott his first Travers.”