Sariska hopes for Vermeille redemption Sariska is reported to be in fine form as she bids to redeem her tarnished reputation in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on Sunday. Her trainer Michael Bell is just hoping last year's dual Oaks heroine does not repeat her antics at York when she refused to come out of the stalls for the Yorkshire Oaks. The Newmarket handler has left no stone unturned with his team doing their utmost to ensure Lady Bamford's filly consents to race. "We've had plenty of practice at home with her and we've taken her to Lingfield where we created race conditions as much as possible," said Bell. "She has behaved beautifully. We've done everything we can. She's been in great form at home, working well and she's got her ground, so ultimately it's up to her now. "She was in the stalls at York a long time with the blinds on. I think she just had too much time to think about it all. "We just hope we haven't got long faces when the stalls open. If all goes according to plan she'll be bang there." Sariska's regular pilot Jamie Spencer has his fingers crossed there will be no hitch on the day. "She's in good form and apparently the ground is soft there at the moment. We've just got to get her out of the gates," Spencer told At The Races. "We won't know until she runs. I rode her when we went to Lingfield on Monday morning and she bounced out perfectly twice. "She's had some stalls training and come through it all with flying colours, but there's nothing like the heat of the moment. "Until she jumps out on Sunday we're in the lap of the Gods, but we're looking forward to it. "She's great to be around and I think the only time she got really soft ground was when she won the Yorkshire Oaks last year and by all accounts it's soft. There are further showers due so if it all falls into place you'd be looking forward to riding her." Midday took advantage of Sariska's bad behaviour to win at the Knavesmire and Henry Cecil's charge is also among a field of 12. The Warren Place handler told his website: "She seems in very good form but it is set to be a very competitive race. I am very happy with her and she must be going there with a live chance." Christophe Lemaire is expecting a big run from his mount Sarafina, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre. The three-year-old has only had three races but has already won two Group Ones. "She won the Prix De Diane and she is in excellent condition," he told At The Races. "It will be a test for her, the mile and a half, but we hope she will win because she is a high-class filly."
