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The French 1000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches) for the fillies has attracted a field of ten highlighted by Prix Marcel Boussac winner Blue Rose Cen who returned to the track in devastating style winning the Group 3 trial race, Prix de Grotte over course and distance four weeks ago. We assess the starters in the first French fillies Classic of the season.

1. Swingalong (Tom Marquand/Karl Burke)

Swingalong enjoyed a successful juvenile campaign with a victory in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes before a fair fourth in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. She stepped up in distance to seven furlongs for the first time when second behind Remarquee in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn at Newbury. The form of that race looks questionable, but she is a useful performer.

2. Fancy Me (Oisin Murphy/P Sogorb)

Fancy Me seemed to enjoy the step up to a mile when recording a victory in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville on her final juvenile start. She was well beaten in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs at Deauville on reappearance and needs to show more.

3. Sauterne (Tony Piccone/P Cottier)

Sauterne has been kept busy since her debut at the end of November with four victories from five starts. She was well-beaten in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence but bounced back with a success in the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf over seven furlongs at this track on very soft ground. Her form so far indicates she is a Listed level filly.

4. Lindy (Cristian Demuro/C Ferland)

Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, Lindy returned to action with an excellent second behind Blue Rose Cen in the Group 3 Prix de Grotte over course and distance. She is clearly a very capable filly but will need to find further improvement to reverse the form.

5. Quick Step (Mickael Barzalona/A Fabre)

Winner of her sole start as a juvenile, Quick Step shaped well on seasonal reappearance with a good fourth behind Showay in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence. Her subsequent course and distance victory in a conditions contest demonstrated her ability and these conditions seem to suit.

6. Showay (Anthony Crastus/P Cottier)

Showay was kept very busy as a two-year-old, racing eight times and only finishing out of the frame once. She placed twice on the all-weather at Cagnes-sur-Mer at the start of the year before recording a career-best success in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville ahead of many re-opposing rivals. She raced prominently that day and won't be allowed to dictate proceedings in the same way.

7. Never Ending Story (Ryan Moore/A P O'Brien)

Never Ending Story was an impressive two-and-a-half length winner of the Group 3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on heavy ground. She looks to have improved from two to three and would need to, as she will be required to reverse form with Blue Rose Cen, who beat her soundly in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac over course and distance.

8. Ritournelle (Gerald Mosse/J Reynier)

A Listed winner on her final start of the juvenile campaign on heavy ground, Ritournelle finished a good second in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville on seasonal reappearance. The form of that race is questionable, and she requires improvement.

9. Kelina (Maxime Guyon/C Laffon Parias)

 A winner of her first two outings, Kelina made no impression to finish last of twelve in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac in October. She was second behind Quickstep in a course and distance conditions race on reappearance and needs to prove herself at Black Type level.

10. Blue Rose Cen (Aurelien Lemaitre/C Head)

Blue Rose Cen was an impressive five-length winner of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac over course and distance at the end of her juvenile campaign and looked to retain all of her ability when winning the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte on reappearance. She is very effective on heavy ground and could prove difficult to beat.

WIN: BLUE ROSE CEN