Aga Khan pair bid for Ascot compensation

Rosanara and Siyouni will bid to put their French Guineas hard luck stories behind them at Royal Ascot later this month.

Rosanara passed the post in fifth in the Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches but was later promoted to fourth after suffering major interference.

Siyouni was sent off favourite for the Poule D’Essai Des Poulains but finished ninth after failing to get a run in the home straight.

Both horses are owned by the Aga Khan and his racing manager Georges Rimauld is hoping they can show their true colours at the summer showpiece meeting.

“Rosanara has come out of the race at Longchamp absolutely fine and she was a bit unlucky,” said Rimauld.

“Whether she would have won or not we’ll never know, but she did race very well and came out of it good.

“She will probably go to Royal Ascot now, that would be the plan at the moment.

“She’s still in the French Oaks but she will probably be directed to the Coronation Stakes.

“Siyouni is in good shape as well and he could go to Ascot for the St James’s Palace Stakes.

“He was a little bit disappointing but he didn’t really get a chance to get a run.

“It was unfortunate what happened but we’ll just have to see what happens next time.”

Rimauld also had news of Sarafina, who won the Group One Prix Saint-Alary last month and now has a Classic tilt on her agenda.

“She is fine and she will go for the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) next weekend,” Rimauld added.