Luther heading Fellowes’ French Classic team

Charlie Fellowes will be heading to ParisLongchamp in May with representatives in the both the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – the French 2000 and 1000 Guineas.

The colt in the equation is the Frankel three-year-old Luther, who was well regarded as a juvenile after a Listed success in the Ascendant Stakes after a prior victory on debut.

He returned to action this season in the Cardinal Stakes over a mile on the Chelmsford all-weather, where he missed out by a length to John and Thady Gosden’s Detain having found himself short of racing room.

Fellowes expects the bay to come forward for the run and has worked him alongside stablemate and French 1000 Guineas contender Shes Perfect ahead of the trip across the Channel.

“He’s really well. He worked over a mile on the Limekilns with Shes Perfect and a lead horse last week and they were both fantastic,” he said.

“The plan is for them to head to the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas respectively.

“My horses have really needed the run this year, I’ve not been able to get them on the grass anywhere near as much as I would like to.

“He went into that race ready to run, but there was plenty of meat left on the bone and he’ll strip a lot fitter for the run.

“I love the way he just cruised into the race, he’s quick, he’s got plenty of speed. Chelmsford is a sharp mile and with a clear run I think he would have gone very close, I’m not sure he would have beaten Detain, but I think it would have been very close between the two of them.

“I’d say with a switch to turf and another couple of weeks with some good work, he’ll be a lot better for that run.”

Shes Perfect has already gained some experience of the French turf, running for the first time this year in the Group Three Prix de la Grotte in mid April and going down by just a neck to a very smart filly in Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zarigana.

“She couldn’t have taken Longchamp any better, she looks a picture and we were delighted with her work,” said Felloews.

“She’s all systems go for France. She ran a screamer last time and I don’t think everything really went to plan that day, we didn’t want to lead but had no choice.

“Kieran Shoemark gave her a lovely ride and I think we gave a very good filly a bit of a fright, that was really encouraging and she’ll definitely come on for that.

“She’s 14-1 and that’s probably a fair reflection but if she can run to a similar level as the other day then she’ll have a shout, hopefully she’ll be bang there.”