When Blue Rose Cen makes her stable debut on Sunday, she will be competing in the Prix d'Ispahan at Paris Longchamp. Maurizio Guarnieri acknowledges that she will have a difficult assignment.
She finished with a double in the French Guineas and Oaks and concluded her campaign with a win in the Prix de l'Opera. She was a star for Christopher Head last season.
She and QEII champion Big Rock were part of a group of horses transported from Head to Guarnieri by their owners, Yeguada Centurion.
“Blue Rose Cen arrived at the stable at the end of January, so I’ve had plenty of time to get to know her, she’s a nice filly,” Guarnieri told Sky Sports Racing. “She progressed a lot in the spring but two months ago, after a week of hot weather we got very cold weather, so she stopped for a moment – but at the moment, I’m very happy with her condition. I know it is very difficult to come back in a Group One race after over 200 days off. I hope she will run a good race. It is not easy to come back in Group Ones against good horses as she will face on Sunday. I’m happy with her condition but she might not be 100 per cent for her first race, but that is normal. The ground won’t be a problem for her.”
Though there were no lasting effects, Big Rock made his comeback in the Lockinge at Newbury on Saturday, but his race was virtually gone before it started.
“Big Rock had a problem coming out of the stalls, he fell on his knees at the start, so he bled a little, but now he’s okay,” said Guarnieri. “The ground was also a bit too firm. I hope his next run will be Ascot (Queen Anne) and he’s training well.”