Attraction fine despite French flop

Attraction is reported to be in fine form this morning despite flopping in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

Mark Johnston’s filly, winner of the English and Irish 1000 Guineas as well as the Coronation Stakes, trailed home last of the 10 runners in the French Group One race.

The daughter of Efisio was suffering only the second defeat in her 10-race career and Johnston’s wife Deirdre believes her poor performance was down to the soft ground.

“She was great this morning. We won’t be running her on that kind of ground again. We have always said her action would not be suitable for soft ground but it’s amazing what you can convince yourself of when you think it’s a good option to run,” said Mrs Johnston.

“Kevin (Darley) said that from early on she was not bolting across the ground as she usually does and when she started to fall back, he didn’t give her a hard race.

“I suppose at least we know for definite now she doesn’t like the ground, which is a good thing as all the while we didn’t know we would have been tempted to run her.”

Connections are now considering another trip to France for the Netjets Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on September 5 but other options for the filly include the betfair.com Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 25 and the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 2.

Mrs Johnston added: “She’s in the Prix du Moulin, the Matron Stakes, the Sun Chariot and the QEII, all the big Group One mile races, but she wouldn’t be running unless the ground was right.”