Wuheida takes a Chantilly encore

Returning to the scene of her most famous triumph, Wuheida is set to register another G1 victory for Godolphin, this time in the Prix de l'Opera on Sunday's glittering Arc day card at Chantilly.
 
The classy Dubawi filly showed her brilliance and middle-distance potential in winning last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at the corresponding meeting, and looked destined to make her mark in the 2017 Classics.
 
But a training setback in April, prior to the G1 1,000 Guineas, put her on the sidelines and she did not race again until summer.
 
"It was a real blow at the time," trainer Charlie Appleby recalled. "Apart from that interruption, she has been very straightforward to train. She's a lovely filly, and I would like her to be able to come back and win another big one on Arc Day," he said.
 
Wuheida has run some cracking races, having faced a variety of challenges.  She acquitted herself well against the older generations when runner-up in Newmarket's G1 Falmouth Stakes, she coped with the middle-distance trip of one mile, three furlongs, when third in the G3 German Oaks, and she measured up well when fourth in a strong running of the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopradstown.
 
Stablemate Sobetsu, also by Dubawi, has been ruled out of running this weekend. She, too, is another classy G1-winning filly, who has done well for Appleby this year.
 
"Sobetsu has suffered a foot abcess and has been battling to shake off its effects," the trainer explained.
 
"I hope she will come right for the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, her next likely target," he pointed out.
 
Appleby is also giving strong consideration to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for Masar, Mythical Magic, and Stage Magic. "I'll keep all options open as long as I possibly can," he said.