Esoterique

Esoterique put up a nice performance to win the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday. Really strong in the market beforehand, Andre Fabre's filly was settled by Maxime Guyon just behind leader Quaduna through the early stages and she picked up impressively into the Dip. Integral quickly got out after her, and the pair of them fought it out through the final furlong but, although Esoterique drifted over towards her rival, it never really looked like the Michael Stoute filly was going to get past. Indeed, it looked as through the French filly was going away again a little inside the final 25 yards.

This was a good performance by Esoterique. Integral was well-fancied and she is high-class. Remember that she finished second to Sky Lantern last year's Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes' on just her fifth ever run. Esoterique was well-backed against her, however, she was obviously pleasing at home, and there is every chance that she can go on from this now.

Second in last year's French 1000 Guineas when she was sent off as favourite, having won her first two races, beaten just a neck by Flotilla with the pair of them clear, the Danehill Dancer filly had a setback after that and only ran once more last season, finishing down the field behind Treve in the French Oaks. She had run twice this season already before Sunday, and she had been beaten on both occasions, but she progressed for those runs, and she should be able to progress again now. Her next target is apparently the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp, and she deserves her chance at that. She could be a big player in the high-class races over a mile and 10 furlongs this season, and it may be that she is under-rated again if she does return to race in Britain in the near future.

4th May 2014

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