1,000 GUINEAS:NATAGORA, France's top hope for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, produced everything her connections expected in winning her prep-race at Maisons-Laffitte.
Pascal Bary's grey filly now disputes favouritism with Muthabara at 5 to 1 for the Guineas, and she only had to be pushed out with hands and heels to take the Prix Imprudence.
It was Natagora's first try at seven furlongs, having taken the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes over six on her final start as a two-year-old.
Patrick Barbe, racing manager to her owner, Stefan Friborg, said: "It all went very well. The going was softer than before and the distance was further than she has run over, so it was a good sign in view of the 1,000 Guineas in three weeks."
The Imprudence is France's top Guineas trial and has produced a few Newmarket winners, such as Miesque, Ravinella and Hatoof.
Ladbrokes were less impressed and only cut her a point from 8 to 1. Spokesman David Williams explained: "Our 7 to 1 will almost certainly come under threat as Natagora looked pretty impressive in France. But the 1,000 Guineas field still looks competitive enough at this stage to lay the top price."
