Natagora returns in seven-furlong prep

Natagora will use the straight seven furlongs of Maisons-Laffitte's $85,000 listed Prix Imprudence on Monday as her sole prep for the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4.

Trained by Pascal Bary, Natagora will face nine opponents in the Imprudence, chief among them the David Smaga-trained Modern Look, the winner last fall of Maisons-Laffitte's six-furlong Group 3 Prix Miesque.

Natagora went from strength-to-strength as a 2-year-old, winning the Group 3 Prix du Bois at five furlongs and the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at 5 1/2 furlongs, both against colts, before finishing second by two lengths in the six-furlong Group 1 Prix Morny.

A confirmed front-runner, Natagora bounced right back to take the six-furlong Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes while getting valuable experience on the Newmarket course over which the 1000 Guineas is run.

While some still question her ability to stay the Guineas mile, she should have no trouble with the Imprudence's seven furlongs, although in Modern Look she will be facing a Zamindar filly who is more experienced on the soft ground that is expected on Monday.