Divine Proportions sharp

Divine Proportions was termed by his trainer, Pascal Bary, to be in "impeccable condition" after a 6 1/2-furlong workout at Deauville on Tuesday in preparation for her run in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois.

An undefeated Kingmambo filly, Divine Proportions was ridden for the move by regular jockey Christophe Lemaire, who announced that he was forgoing the opportunity to ride Touch of Land in Saturday's Arlington Million because he could not be sure of making it back to Deauville from Chicago in time to ride Divine Proportions in what will be the toughest assignment of her career.

The winner of the French 1000 Guineas and the French Oaks, Divine Proportions will be facing older colts for the first time in the Marois, chief among them Europe's highest rated miler, Valixir. Her three-quarter-brother, Whipper, winner of last year's Marois, is a probable. His trainer, Robert Collet, said Wednesday that Whipper came out of his Prix Maurice de Gheest victory on Sunday in good order but that he will wait until Friday before making a final decision.

The Irish 2000 Guineas winner, Dubawi, was the other big name among the nine horses left in the one-mile Marois at Wednesday's four-day entry stage.