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Fabre once again holds an exceptional crop of young horses

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Top trainer boasts a thrilling trio for tilts at Classics on both sides of the Channel says La Casaque Noire

Peter Chapple-Hyam had a look of disbelief on his face after seeing his 1000 Guineas favourite Laureldean Gale beaten in the Group 3 Prix du Calvados on Saturday.

The way she has been working, defeat was thought out of the question. Interviewed directly after the race, still in a state of shock, he couldn't say much either, being almost totally lost for words.

Proviso (11 for the 1000 Guineas) was the 'culprit' here. Hitting the front at the distance, she won with a bit in hand, despite running green and wandering about. The pair pulled six lengths clear and both are clearly out of the ordinary. Race-goers should have taken the tip, as it's not every day Khalid Abdullah comes to see his French runners. This was clearly expected.

The time of the race was exceptional, in fact a record, and the average speed exceeded a mind-boggling 38.5mph!). Next year Proviso might be an Oaks filly, but on this evidence she'll have enough speed for the Spring Classic too.

She has an entry in the Fillies Mile at Ascot (Sept 29) and a possible re-match with Laureldean Gale, but no doubt Chapple-Hyam will breathe a huge sigh of relief when he learns that her more likely target is the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc Day.

Andre Fabre has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to his crop of juveniles. So much so, that he could probably run his own mini Classics next year.

It's good news for English race-goers, as in an effort to keep his charges apart, that almost certainly means seeing some of his stars on this side of the Channel this year and next.

Earlier this month at Deauville he unleashed the grey colt Beret Rouge (Red Ransom) who showed a blinding turn of foot to win his maiden, over an extended six furlongs, by an easy three lengths. Owned and bred by H.H. Aga Khan, he works like a colt out of the top drawer. He's likely to take in a Listed event over seven furlongs next weekend and has entries and in both the Dewhurst Stakes (Newmarket, Oct. 20) and the Racing Post Trophy (Doncaster, Oct. 27). He looks to be a Guineas horse and may stay further in time, although the Derby distance will probably be beyond him.

Fabre also trains another grey colt, Minted, for the Aga. This speedy sort remains unbeaten, having won twice over six furlongs. He's by the Danehill stallion Clodovil, who was an out-and-out miler. Looking at his style of racing, I doubt he'll stay much further than his sire, even though his half-brother Minatlya (Linamix) stayed a mile-and-a-half. He's also in the Dewhurst and trades at 95 for the 2000 Guineas.

Completing Fabre's trio of entries in the Newmarket race is the unraced World Ruler (by Dansili and also a Juddmonte homebred).

Incidentally, Fabre secured a hat-trick of wins in the Dewhurst in the 1990's with Zafonic (92), Pennekamp (94) and Xaar (97).

Not content with totally dominating in Paris, Fabre obviously wants to once again show the English how it's done. Watch out!