Soneva captures Prix de Lieurey; Prix de Moulin awaits

Soneva rallied from last to first under a cool ride by Christophe Soumillon to take the Group 3, $113,000 Prix de Lieurey at Deauville on Thursday, confirming her 2.40-1 favoritism. A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Cherokee Run and trained by Yves de Nicolay, she ran out a two-length winner over Emergency, clocking a tepid 1:45.50 for the one-turn mile on good-to-soft ground. Wilside, winner of the recent Group 3 Prix Chloe, was third, one length farther back.

Soneva had previously finished a neck second to Emergency in the listed Prix Amandine going seven furlongs. She is now being considered for a major step up in class - the Group 1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp against older colts on Sept. 6.

The Andre Fabre-trained filly Kalla is also set to step up in class after her short-head score over Peinture Rare in the 1 9/16-mile, Group 3 Prix Minerve. Kalla, a British-bred daughter of Monsun, will be aimed at the Group 1 Prix Vermeille on Sept. 13 for a likely meeting with the undefeated French Oaks winner Stacelita.

On Saturday at Deauville, the Group 2, $184,000 Prix de Pomone at 1 9/16 miles should produce one or two more candidates for the Vermeille, the key filly-and-mare Arc prep. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Quetsche, a Gone West filly who is 4 for 5 this year and won the 1 1/2-mile, Group 3 Prix de Royaumont last time, is the selection. The Aga Khan's entry of Shemima, a two-time Group 3 winner, and Winkle, who was second versus colts in the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, will test the choice, as will Tres Rapide, who was a neck second to Shemima three back in the Group 3 Prix Allez France.