THE Aga Khan’s Ervedya paid a mighty compliment to Ballydoyle’s filly Found when she ran out an easy winner of the Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte last Thursday.

A race later Freddy Head landed back-to-back wins in the Prix Djebel when Ride Like The Wind (Lope De Vega) just stayed on the better to beat the favourite Make Believe in the dying stages of this classic trial.

Neither Ervedya or Ride Like The Win are definite French contenders for the Guineas at Newmarket but the André Fabre-trained High Celebrity is still on course to contest the 1000 Guineas although she missed the Imprudence due to the testing ground.

That filly is owned, for the moment, and bred by trotting professional Jean-Pierre Dubois (who also owned Stacelita) and very likely to be sold so was not risked at this important time in her career.

Last year, Ervedya (Siyouni) ran third in the Darley Prix Morny before going under by two and a half lengths to Found in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac.

Christophe Soumillon was patient on his filly who was tucked in behind the leaders early on when raced up the centre of the track. One and a half furlongs out, a gap opened up closer to the rail and, soon after entering the final furlong, Erveyda quickened to beat the smart Ameenah by a length and three quarters with Queen Bee a similar distance away third.

The winner is under the care of Jean-Claude Rouget at Pau and he commented: “Now we are sure she has trained on and retained the class that she showed last year. Ervedya is a very easy individual with a nice character. You learn a lot from a trial.”

The Aga Khan’s thoroughbred consultant Georges Rimaud added: “We must see how she comes out of the race and have time to think about the Pouliches.”

Being French-bred, Ervedya attracts an owner’s premium of 64% and the same owner also has to consider the future programme of the Alain de Royer-Dupré Vedouma (Dalakhani) who is unbeaten in two races and likely to be seen out in the Prix de la Grotte.