Romantic Symphony steps up at Deauville and prompts transatlantic plan
Charlie Appleby is considering a trip to Canada for Romantic Symphony after the Dubawi filly continued her rapid elevation through the ranks with victory in the Aga Khan Studs Prix Lady O’Reilly (Group 3) at Deauville.
Having taken a Listed race at Newmarket just a fortnight earlier, Romantic Symphony again showed an aptitude for middle-distance racing as William Buick produced her to finish strongly over the mile and a half. She held off the favourite to secure the Group-level success and reinforce the promise she has shown this season.
Appleby, reflecting on the filly’s pattern of improvement, indicated that the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on 12 September is being considered as a suitable next target. He notes that Romantic Symphony thrives when delivered from off the pace and appears to be strengthening with each start; the quick ground often found in North American late-summer turf contests would also suit her profile.
Progressive profile and family context
Romantic Symphony is a full-sister to Yibir, the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, and the family’s tendency to flourish with age has shaped the thinking around her campaign. Her rise from a Listed success at Newmarket to a Group 3 winner within weeks underlines a carefully managed progression and opens the door to international options that match her running style and preferred conditions.
Doncaster winner Jassas returns in Group company
Also on the Deauville card, Appleby and Buick teamed up with Jassas in the Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin (Group 3). The No Nay Never colt, who had shown promise with an earlier Saint-Cloud debut win and a Listed success over the same course and distance in July, was unable to live with Christopher Head’s impressive winner, Avec Toi.
Avec Toi completed a hat-trick in dominant fashion, pulling clear of his rivals under Pierre-Charles Boudot. The performance marked a continuation of a fine juvenile campaign for the son of No Nay Never; Head described him as an exceptionally talented colt whose limits are not yet known and confirmed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend as a principal target.
Head also flagged the possibility of a run in the Prix La Rochette on 6 September to ensure the colt arrives at the Arc meeting fully prepared. Owners and connections will discuss the options, with the emphasis on finding the most suitable path forward given the colt’s evident potential and the ambitions surrounding him.
Implications for festival campaigns
- Romantic Symphony’s next move to Woodbine would represent another example of top European trainers exploring North American turf fixtures for fillies and mares late in the season, using races such as the EP Taylor to target international black-type and to take advantage of fast ground.
- Avec Toi’s ascendancy keeps him in the frame for major juvenile assignments on ParisLongchamp’s Arc weekend, where a strong showing would mark him out as a leading colt of his generation.
- Both results underline the continuing importance of managing progressive three- and four-run campaigns through the late summer, with many trainers mapping routes that take in Listed and Pattern races across France, Britain and further afield to optimise each horse’s development.
Connections of both Romantic Symphony and Avec Toi now face choices about how best to progress their charges through the autumn festival calendar. For racegoers and followers of the major UK and Irish meetings, the next few weeks should provide clarity on whether these two will be prominent names when the big fixtures arrive.
