Tuesday, 26 June 2012: The connections of last year's Arc winner Danedream believe her disappointing last in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday was a case of déjà vu.
Trainer Peter Schiergen's impressive mare had resumed with a good win at Baden-Baden but could not quicken on Sunday and weakened to finish last of four behind Andre Fabre's Meandre in the G1 feature.
"There weren't enough runners. On the same day last year she was fifth in the Prix de Malleret and she went on to win three Group Ones in a row, so we shouldn't worry yet," said Patrick Barbe, racing manager for part-owner Teruya Yoshida.
"She'll get better in a more competitive race. She would have been suited by more pace earlier in the race.
"Apart from that she was fine before the race and she seemed fine afterwards."
Danedream has an entry in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 22 but Barbe said there were no definite plans.
"We haven't discussed her next race yet," he said.
Meandre got off the mark for the season with a fine return to the form that him win the Grand Prix de Paris last summer before he was beaten in the Prix Niel and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when sixth behind Danedream.
It turned into a sprint in the straight and it was Meandre who showed the best turn of foot in the testing conditions to claim top honours under Maxime Guyon.
Leader Shareta kept on dourly to fill second with the returning Galikova staying on for third from Danedream.
Meandre joins Japanese star Orfevre join Al Qasr as the first three qualifiers for this year's Breeders' Cup Turf.
Al Qasr qualified by capturing the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo at San Isidro in Argentina last month.
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