Saturday 18 May 2019 12:51, UK
Charlie Appleby is leaning towards returning triple Group One winner Wild Illusion back to action next weekend in the Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.
The daughter of Dubawi stepped up her preparations for a tilt at the Group One contest when participating in a racecourse gallop under James Doyle alongside La Pelosa and Dathanna at Newmarket's Rowley Mile on Saturday.
After being given a lead into the seven-furlong exercise, Wild Illusion moved to the front of the group during the closing stages of the workout, before finishing around a length clear at the line.
Appleby said: "The plan was for her to come up here and have a nice sensible piece of work in what we hope is preparation for next weekend and taking a look at the Prix d'Ispahan for her. She has pleased us and pleased James.
"We had mapped her out for some races after the Prix d'Ispahan and we were looking at the Pretty Polly (at the Curragh) as a potential starting point, but she is a different filly this year.
"She is a lot more enthusiastic this year and therefore she is just getting fitter quicker than she normally would.
"That is why we popped her in the Prix d'Ispahan - we thought would take a look and over the last couple of weeks she has been pleasing us.
"It was not a crunch gallop, but a gallop that will help make our minds up in the early part of next week whether we are going to make our way over there.
"On the evidence of this morning I think we will take it under serious consideration as she is entitled to come forward a nice bit for that."
Trips to Germany could be on the agenda for both La Pelosa, who landed a Grade One at Woodbine on her penultimate start, and four-time winner Dathanna.
Appleby added: "La Pelosa was the one who lost her action into the dip there.
"She is in the German 1000 Guineas and depending how she comes out of this, as they are all entitled to go forward for this, that will be her target.
"There is a Listed race for Dathanna in Dortmund."
