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Usherette leads powerful Muguet team

Dual G2 winner Usherette starts her 2017 campaign in the G2 Prix Du Muguet (15.25 hrs local time) at Saint-Cloud, France, on Monday, May 1, with Jimmy Two Times and Toscanini also lining up for Godolphin in the mile contest. 
 
Five-year-old Shamardal mare Usherette (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona, drawn seven) won on four of her five starts last year, including a length success in the G2 Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs on good ground at Newmarket, UK, in May.  
 
She followed up with an impressive victory in the mile G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on soft going at Royal Ascot in June and makes her first appearance since coming home sixth of seven on good to firm ground in the G1 Falmouth Stakes over a mile at Newmarket in July. 
 
Four-year-old grey colt Jimmy Two Times (Andre Fabre/Vincent Cheminaud, drawn six) joined Godolphin after storming to a decisive win from Dicton in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc over a mile at Saint-Cloud on April 2, his seasonal debut.
 
The son of Kendargent also scored at G3 level last season in the seven-furlong Prix De La Porte Maillot at Deauville and was third at the same course in the G1 Prix Maurice De Gheest over half a furlong shorter. 
 
Andre Fabre said: “Usherette clearly has the class to win a race like this, but she is making her seasonal debut and will probably need this race more than some of the others. She has done well. 
 
“Jimmy Two Times is coming into this in great form, having won his prep race in pleasing style. Any forecast rain will be a bonus for him.”
 
Toscanini (Richard Fahey/William Buick, drawn three), a five-year-old son of Shamardal, was the comfortable winner of the six-furlong G3 Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh, Ireland, in August and finished fourth on his seasonal return in a Listed race at Doncaster, UK, on April 1, his first attempt at a mile. 
 
Richard Fahey commented: “We were very pleased with Toscanini’s first run for us at Doncaster. 
 
“We have been very happy with him since and we will see how he gets on.”
 
A field of 10 for the Prix Du Muguet also includes G1 Prix De La Foret runner-up Karar and G1 Qatar Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp second Spectre. 
 
Elsewhere on Monday's Saint-Cloud card, maiden winners Wolf Country (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), a Dubawi colt, and Sand Fox (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) step up to Listed company in the 12-furlong Prix De L’Avre (16.40 hrs local time) for three-year-olds.