Divine Proportions returns

Divine Proportions makes a sooner-than-expected return to the races at Deauville on Sunday, when she will use the straight mile of the Group 1 Prix d'Astarte against older fillies and mares as a prep for her clash with Valixir and Dubawi in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Aug. 14.

The undefeated winner of the French 1000 Guineas and the French Oaks, Divine Proportions will be seeking her fifth triumph at the highest level in the $240,000 Astarte. A Kentucky-bred Kingmambo filly, Divine Proportions is versatile enough to handle the cutback in distance from the 1 5/16 miles of the June 12 French Oaks.

Trained by Pascal Bary, Divine Proportions will have regular rider Christophe Lemaire in the saddle.

Her nine challengers include one-mile Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner Gorella; two recent Group 3 winners, Coupe de Champe and Needlecraft; and last year's German 1000 Guineas champ, Shapira.