Prix Jean Romanet 2025 Preview – Runners Guide to Deauville Fillies & Mares Group 1

Even more valuable than the Morny at Deauville this weekend is the €480,000 Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet for fillies and mares over 2,000m. Roughly a mile-and-a-quarter, this feature contest on Sunday, 24 August has eight females gunning for the lion’s share of the prize money in Normandy.

Godolphin send Cinderella’s Dream over and across the Channel after a remarkable campaign so far. Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old filly picked up her first Group 1 in Europe when landing the Falmouth Stakes on home turf during the Newmarket July Festival last month.

Given that trip was short of her best, it’s no wonder that online horse racing bookmakers have Cinderella’s Dream favourite for the Prix Jean Romanet now she steps back up in distance. Also making a raid on France is James Tate’s mare Royal Dress and Aidan O’Brien inmate Bedtime Story.

The latter finished second in the Prix de Diane on her last visit from Ireland. Against the overseas trio are a more than decent bunch of domestic fillies with another three-year-old in Cankoura out to build on a Group 3 success over course and distance from Francis-Henri Graffard. He also saddles Quisisana, but there’s no doubt who the stable’s first string is.

Christopher Head, meanwhile, saddles Start Of Day who stayed on into third in the Prix Rothschild over the Straight Mile here last time. Survie stays further, meanwhile, and hit the frame behind useful fillies Whirl and Kalpana when last in action on her Irish debut. Grand Stars completes the line-up for jockey-turned-trainer Gerald Mosse.

With many different form lines and generations on show, we turn to our experts for their analysis of every filly and mare in the field. Read all about the females seeking this valuable prize at Deauville below…

Prix Jean Romanet 2025 Runners Guide

1. Survie

WHIRL TAKES THE PADDY POWER PRETTY POLLY STAKES💨

With Kalpana breathing down her neck, Whirl fights to glory 🤩#ITVRacing | @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/vjjx31ByF7

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 28, 2025

Only one Group win to her name, but that doesn’t tell the full story as number of placed efforts. They include when beaten a head in last season’s Prix de Diane, on reappearance in the Prix Corrida and an excellent third giving 12lb to Whirl in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh latest. Winner has since landed the Nassau Stakes and runner-up filled same spot in the King George. Brings strong form to the table.

2. Cinderella’s Dream

Won Group races from a mile latest up to 1,900m and should have no problem with this trip. Not out of the first two in seven subsequent starts to last season’s 1000 Guineas including three runs in America. All roads lead back to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and going one better there, but easy to see why she’s Prix Jean Romanet favourite.

3. Quisisana

In-form mare at a lower level after landing two Listed races on her last three starts. Clearly in the form of her life, but this is a Group 1 and she was only fifth in previous Pattern race. Stable also has Cankoura in the line-up.

4. Royal Dress

Dual Listed winner in the UK over a mile and Group 3 success in Ireland at nine furlongs last summer. Stamina doubts exist for the Prix Morny and she’d prefer softer ground than they might get even with the watering groundstaff do on tracks in France. Hard to make a case for.

5. Grand Stars

Listed win on debut since joining current trainer and not disgraced in Pattern races this season. Neck behind Survie in the Prix Corrida, no match for Goliath in La Coupe and fourth in a German Group 1 latest. Others appeal more.

6. Start Of Day

FALLEN ANGEL toughs it out to land the Gr.1 EBF Prix Rothschild at Deauville in determined fashion for Wathnan Racing and trainer @karl_burke 🏆

This is a third top-level success for the 4yo daughter of @DarleyEurope’s Too Darn Hot 🔥

Bred by Branton Court Stud Llp -… pic.twitter.com/Wqz1ZyJeAD

— EBN (@bloodstocknews) August 3, 2025

Another with only a Listed win to her name, but half-length second to Ombudsman last season reads well. Winner has landed the Prince Of Wales and Juddmonte International Stakes this term. Behind Cinderella’s Dream when fifth at Royal Ascot, but was short of room. Shaped like she might be better over the Prix Morny trip when third in the Rothschild here latest. Each-way player.

7. Cankoura

Group 3 course and distance winner latest and just half-a-length behind Bedtime Story in the Prix de Diane before that. Hold-up performer and still open to further progress. Could have race run to suit. Obvious claims receiving weight for age from all but one rival.

8. Bedtime Story

👑 First-crop Classic performer by #PersianKing !

Following in the footsteps of her classic-winning sire, Cankoura earned a strong third place in the Prix de Diane @Longines Gr.1 at Chantilly yesterday. Congratulations to her breeder @AgaKhanStuds and all her connections 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JkluAKtwjo

— Haras d’Etreham (@Haras_d_Etreham) June 16, 2025

No win in three previous starts in France, but improved on French 1000 Guineas sixth when runner-up in the Prix de Diane. Heavy ground fourth in Group 1 Nassau Stakes behind stable companion Whirl latest. Was a precocious juvenile and has a chance on form of penultimate start when nabbed Cankoura for second. Suspicion she might want further, though.

Prix Jean Romanet 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

There’s an obvious case for Cinderella’s Dream, but she’s a short-price favourite to follow-up on her Newmarket July Course success over the Bunbury Mile. Value might lie elsewhere, and two to consider each-way are START OF DAY and SURVIE. The former’s eye-catching Rothschild third here, as well as second to Ombudsman from last season, suggest she could go well.

Survie, meanwhile, got within three lengths of Whirl despite conceding a huge weight for age allowance to her. Using the winner as a form marker, she looks each-way value relative to Bedtime Story, who needs to confirm Chantilly form with Cankoura down in trip 100m or so. That one is the clear pick of Graffard’s pair in this line-up with others needing improvement.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee