Natagora Powers To Papin Glory

Natagora notched her fourth successive win as she claimed the Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte.

The Divine Light filly was beaten on her first start at Saint-Cloud in May but she has not looked back since and won a Group Three at this track earlier in the month.

Natagora continued her progression when seeing off Italian raider Magritte by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Christophe Lemaire, with British raider Strike The Deal coming late to claim third.

Natagora was presenting trainer Pascal Bary with a third win in the five-and-a-half-furlong feature.

And while Bary was not keen to compare this filly with his 2004 winner Divine Proportions, who went on to take both French 1000 Guineas and Oaks, Lemaire was quick to draw on their similarities.

'She reminds me of a certain filly ? Divine Proportions,' said Lemaire.

'It is difficult to say whether she has progressed because she may have been this good when she started her career.

'She is a filly of great quality.'

Bary was satisfied with Natagora's performance and it now planning to tackle the Prix Morny, a race he also won with Divine Proportions.

'She was very professional and resisted till the end,' he said. 'She will go for the Prix Morny at Deauville (August 19).

'However, I will not compare the two fillies as they are of a different generation.'

Jeremy Noseda's Strike The Deal was the pick of the British raiding party with Art Advisor, New Jersey and Major Eazy finishing fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Stormy River warmed up for a tilt at next month's Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville by landing the Group Three Prix Messidor.

Although he disappointed in Dubai and could finish only third in the Prix d'Ispahan, Stormy River was back on top for Thierry Thulliez.

The colt swept down the outside of the field to beat Satri, with Andre Fabre's Multiplex, who had vied with the winner for favouritism, back in third.

'He ran a very fine race and I had no problems in dropping him out to the back because he was travelling really well,' said Thulliez.

(C) PA Sport