Excelebration takes on Moonlight Cloud© Photo Healy Racing
Moonlight Cloud takes on eight other individual Group One winners in what may very well be the race of the season in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
Established as Europe's top sprinter after finishing just a head behind Black Caviar and running away with the Prix Maurice de Gheest for the second year in a row last weekend, Freddie Head's filly now meets the cream of the milers.
They include Excelebration, unable to manage the hopeless task of defeating Frankel but successful at the top level in the Prix du Moulin, Dubai Duty Free star Cityscape and Most Improved, who returned to form with a bang in the St James's Palace Stakes.
That is just for starters, as there are four more Group One-winning fillies engaged.
William Buick stays loyal to Fallen For You over John Gosden's other runner Elusive Kate, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Andre Fabre's highly-regarded Golden Lilac and Immortal Verse, who toppled Head's mighty Goldikova in last year's renewal of the Normandy track's feature race, are also engaged.
Immortal Verse appeared in need of her comeback run when behind Elusive Kate and Golden Lilac in the Prix Rothschild.
"It looks like they're all in there," said Head. "She's taken the race very well and has done nothing since - we're keeping her fresh for Sunday."
Head is unconcerned about Moonlight Cloud tackling a mile for just the second time - she was only seventh in last year's 1000 Guineas on her other attempt.
"It's going to be a tough race, it's a top-class Group One and I don't worry about the distance - I think she will get the distance," he said.
"She's changed a lot since last year, she doesn't pull as much as she used to."
Brian Meehan's Most Improved was a winter gamble for the 2000 Guineas but did not make the race. After getting stuck in the crossfire of a brutal French Derby, the colt beat many of the Guineas also-rans at Royal Ascot.
"The spring was very disappointing for us all, but he went to Ascot and proved us right, which was great," Meehan told At The Races.
"What happened in France was disappointing, but he is a big strong courageous horse and at least he came away from it having had a run.
"The Sussex Stakes was always a huge consideration, but this horse is French-bred so it made sense to go to France at some stage with him and the Jacques le Marois was the ideal race."
Looking further ahead, the Manton trainer said: "We'll see how things go on Sunday.
"There are good races at the Breeders' Cup for him now. There is the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile, so the Breeders' Cup is probably priority.
"I believe Frankel is going to step up to a mile and a quarter, which we probably won't do.
"Who we take on is just part of the deal really. To take on Frankel just for the sake of it would be reckless and unprofessional."
Cityscape was eighth in last year's race and needs to step up from a couple of more recent efforts.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: "It's a very good race, but you'd expect it to be, and I think he'll need a personal best to win.
"After his outstanding run in Dubai, we took him to Hong Kong, which probably wasn't the best thing to do.
"He looked like he was running a very big race in the Eclipse with two and a half furlongs to go, but he just ran out of petrol so we've brought him back to a mile. He's in great shape."
Along with the German raider Indomito, Caspar Netscher is the only other runner without a top-flight victory to his name but trainer Alan McCabe is undeterred.
The stable flag-bearer has recorded four Group wins, including in the German Guineas, and has been rested since finishing sixth in the Prix Jean Prat.
"He's in good order and we gave him a bit of a break after his last run in France, where he just ran a bit flat," said McCabe.
"His work has been good and it's his first time running against older horses, so we know it's going to be tough, but if you're not in, you can't win.
"We're going there just hopeful, but he's a good traveller and we're waiting to see how he gets on.
"I've thought ahead a bit, and he has a couple more options in France as well as the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury and the Park Stakes at Doncaster. The Breeders' Cup will be on the agenda as well later."
