Felicitas set to take Chantilly route for Classic honours

Ed Walker is preparing to dust himself down and regroup for a shot at the Prix de Diane with Felicitas after her agonising defeat in a thrilling Musidora Stakes at York, remaining confident she remains a “pretty special filly”.

The daughter of Teofilo had previously impressed at both Lingfield and in deeper company at Sandown before heading to the Knavesmire to put Classic aspirations to the test, losing little in defeat, travelling stylishly and engaging Legacy Link in a battle in which she was narrowly thwarted late on.

Walker said: “I think we’ll end up going to France rather than Epsom. We actually toyed with the idea of going straight to Epsom after Sandown, but I wasn’t confident a mile and a half would be her gig and I wanted to see her in a proper 10-furlong race rather than jumping straight up to 12.

“That was why we took the Musidora in and I’m really glad we did and if we are going to have a shot at a Classic, Epsom would have been a wasted go and France I think is the right way to go.”

Although bitterly disappointed at Felicitas’ Knavesmire reversal, Walker can console himself with the proof he retains a high-class filly within his ranks and one who could provide ample compensation if successful at Chantilly on June 14.

“It was a hard one to swallow as we went there full of confidence and belief and I think until half a furlong out remained pretty bullish,” continued Walker.

“Ultimately she just got outbattled and outstayed and maybe outclassed really in the last half a furlong.

“We’re obviously very proud of her and they look like being too very smart fillies. You never expect to win, but we went there thinking we had a pretty special filly – I still think we do, but we’re in this game to win.

“It’s just so hard and you dream of competing in races like this then run into John Gosden, Juddmonte and Frankel’s niece and it doesn’t get much bigger than that in terms of owner, trainer and pedigree.”