Proportional humbles decent Boussac field

PROPORTIONAL has a lot to live up to compared with last year’s Total Prix Marcel Boussac winner Zarkava, but still had the ability to humble a decent pack of two-year-old fillies in the Longchamp Group One yesterday.

Rather than stay at home for the French 1000 Guineas next season like the new Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Zarkava did, Proportional’s Anglophile trainer Criquette Head-Maarek could be persuaded to aim for the Newmarket version, as Finsceal Beo did in 2006.

Stephane Pasquier was in the perfect spot close to the pacemaking Marquesa, and Proportional (20-1) quickened off the home bend to come in three lengths clear of Jean-Claude Rouget’s previously unbeaten Elusive Wave.