Proviso primed for return to racing

With two leading French fillies having already shown their quality this week, Andre Fabre’s Proviso is nearing a return to the track.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s three-year-old is being prepared for her comeback in the Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp on April 27.

The daughter of Dansili met her first defeat in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot when meeting trouble in running behind Listen.

But connections have high hopes for her this year and hope she will be challenging the likes of Zarkava and Natagora for top honours as the season progresses.

“Proviso is in great nick and coming along really well. Andre is pleased with her, I spoke to him this morning and she is really coming to herself,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, Abdullah’s racing manager.

“I would say she’ll go to the Prix Vanteaux which is a nine-furlong Group Three on April 27 and then we’d make a decision on her.

“Her main aim is the Prix de Diane and how she gets there will be up to Andre, but there looks to be some really high-class fillies, especially in France, this year.

“But I’m looking forward to Proviso most of all, I must admit.”

Grimthorpe did admit to being impressed by Natagora in Monday’s Prix Imprudence.

“I was there, unfortunately we finished second to her (with Conference Call), she’s a very nice filly, no question. Whether she will stay a mile is a good question, on yesterday’s evidence I would say she would,” he told 'At The Races'.