Mandesha takes Astarte

Mandesha more than made amends for her disqualification from the Group 3 Prix Chloe four weeks ago with a victory at Deauville on Sunday in the Group 1, $317,000 Prix d'Astarte.

In winning the straight mile for fillies and mares, Mandesha assumed a narrow command of the French 3-year-old filly division, as she had the first three from the French 1000 Guineas behind her. Impressionnante, placed second in the Guineas, came home second, a half-length behind Mandesha. Tie Black, awarded the Guineas via disqualification, was third, 1 1/2 lengths farther back, while Price Tag, the disqualified Guineas winner, was fifth.

Mandesha's task was made somewhat easier by the withdrawal of the prerace favorite and recent Falmouth Stakes winner Rajeem, who never left her Newmarket stall after coming down with a hoof infection.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, Mandesha covered the mile on soft ground in 1:36.40.