roualle realistic about queen chance

By PA Sport Staff

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Satwa Queen's trainer Jean de Roualle is under no illusions as to the task his charge faces in taking on Ouija Board in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The Frenchman believes Ed Dunlop's five-year-old is the horse to beat over a mile and three furlongs at Churchill Downs and likened the English veteran to a former British Prime Minister.

"Ouija Board is Ouija Board, what can we say, she's the Margaret Thatcher of the racing world!" joked de Roualle.

"But Satwa Queen is really flying so we are hoping for the best. I wouldn't say I'm confident for her because that's rubbish, but I'm just concentrating on my filly and she should be okay.

"She's an outsider. Wait A While is for me the best filly for America, I'm very impressed with her record, so I know there are some champion fillies in the race.

"But she's a fresh filly and has only made two starts since suffering an injury at the start of the year in Dubai which can only be good for Satwa Queen."

De Roualle was less than satisfied after Satwa Queen was drawn in stall nine for the 10-runner event but he has been buoyed by the rain which fell throughout the morning on Wednesday.

Second in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp last time out, the four-year-old won on her previous outing in August on very soft ground at Deauville.

"I'm thrilled it's raining because she loves soft ground," explained de Roualle.

"It's not the heavy ground we get in Europe, it's just perfect - she loves it."

While Satwa Queen, who will be the mount of Thierry Thulliez, is de Roualle's sole runner at Churchill Downs, he will be keeping a close eye on his former charge Gorella in the Mile after she was sold to Martin Schwartz and sent to the American yard of Patrick Biancone.

"I'm glad she's in the Mile because I'd hate to see Satwa Queen beat her," de Roualle said.