Recent Atalanta Stakes winner bids to get off the mark at the top level in Newmarket this weekend.
It looks like being a very busy weekend for the French-born handler David Menuisier, with both Sunway and Tamfana looking to strike at the top level on either side of the Channel. While the former will be hoping to upstage some of the more-fancied runners in Europe's premier middle-distance in the French capital on Sunday, some 24 hours earlier Tamfana will embark on her bid for a first career Group 1 triumph.
It has been something of a season of ifs buts and maybes for the three-year-old daughter of Soldier's Hollow, with a luckless fourth behind Elmalka in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket perhaps the one that sticks longest in the memory.
David Menuisier's filly went close once more at the top level when third over an extended mile and a quarter in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, before once again acquitting herself well on the highest stage in France by finishing fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.
A return to British soil, combined with a four-furlong drop back in trip and reappearance in Group 3 company would see Tamfana get off the mark for the season in style when bagging the Atlanta Stakes at Sandown.
With connections now happy to stick to a mile, a return to the top beckons in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes, where she will be partnered by Irish champion jockey Colin Keane for the first time this weekend.
"The filly's prep was great in the Atalanta, and she is in really good condition," said Menuisier on Sky Sports Racing.
"I blame the trainer for her not having a Group 1 to her name as of yet, but I have had a good word with him and made sure he corrects the situation.
"She will stay further in time, but I really think it makes sense to stay at a mile for now. She was a bit short of staying one-mile-four in the Grand Prix de Paris, she probably stays one-mile-three.
"She stays in training next year and it will be fascinating to follow her progress in the next 12 months."
Standing in her way is the John and Thady Gosden-trained pair Inspiral and Nashwa, with the former making her potential swansong.
With a busy weekend of racing across Europe and Ryan Moore booked to ride in France on Saturday, it was confirmed this morning that Rab Havlin will partner the Cheveley Park-owned six-time Group 1 heroine Inspiral for the first time since steering her success on debut at Newmarket back in July 2021.
An impressive winner of this prize twelve months ago, Inspiral will be bidding to register a first Group 1 success of the season on her first outing since finishing third behind Charyn in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August.
Plenty of eyes will be on fellow Clarehaven Stables inmate Nashwa as she attempts to make a winning return to action after finishing ninth in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. The Imad Alsagar-owned five-year-old will be ridden by retained rider Hollie Doyle, who subsequently misses the ride on Trueshan in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.
