Andre Fabre expects the drier ground at Newmarket in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes to suit Esoterique more than the soft conditions she encountered in France last time out.
The five-year-old-has been supplemented for the race in which she could only finish fourth last season behind Integral.
She has met Michael Stoute's mare four times, with the score at two apiece but the French raider heads into this weekend with much stronger claims having beaten the colts in the Prix Jacques le Marois.
Esoterique was a late withdrawal from the Prix du Moulin, hence the change in plan to send her to Newmarket.
"She was visually quite impressive in the Prix Jacques le Marois on soft ground and then it was even softer at Longchamp for the Prix du Moulin so we withdrew her. I am convinced that she is a better filly on good ground," said Fabre.
"She is five years old now and, like most horses, has become stronger and easier to train."
Integral has not been seen since disappointing behind Amazing Maria at Royal Ascot due to a problem with her feet.
Her connections are confident she is back to something like her best, though, and she made all in this 12 months ago.
"Obviously Esoterique was a significant addition to the field on Monday having been supplemented," said
Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.
"She deserves a huge amount of respect and will be tough to beat.
"This has been on the cards for a long time for us.
"She wouldn't want the ground to get quick but it shouldn't, it's just that she's had issues with her feet which has why she's been off since Ascot.”
The second of three top-class French-trained runners is Bawina, who has gone close in her last three runs at the highest level for Carlos Laffon-Parias.
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for the owning Wertheimer family, said: "There is a very nice field, but she is ready to run a nice race.
"She will be up against Esoterique and Integral - Group One winners - but our horse deserves to win another big race.
"She has been very good this year. I see her really as a nine-furlong horse but there are not that many options and I do not think a mile at Newmarket will be a problem.
"She ran well over 10 furlongs at Deauville, but the return to a shorter distance will be fine as she won the Prix du Muguet over that sort of trip.
"Softer ground is not a problem, but I think she prefers faster ground."
Another French contender is the Mikel Delzangles-trained Maimara, the mount of Frankie Dettori.
Delzangles said: "Maimara is in top form. She has recovered well from her run in the Prix du Moulin and I am very happy to have secured the services of Frankie Dettori to ride her - when we found out that Frankie was available it helped make up our minds to send her over.
"The Moulin was just the kind of race that she does not like - they went a slow pace and then she got a bit outpaced when the tempo quickened - so I am hoping for a stronger pace on Saturday.
"Her last two starts have been on very soft ground and I think that it will be considerably quicker at the Rowley Mile, but that is not really a factor for her as she goes on any ground.
"She is a well-balanced filly so the undulations at Newmarket should not be a problem.
"This will be her last race of the year but she stays in training as a four-year-old.
"I have always thought that she was a top class filly, but she grew a lot back in the spring hence, although running perfectly well, she wasn't able to show her true ability when eighth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas)."
Irish representation comes in the shape of Mick Halford's Raydara, a Group Two winner for the Aga Khan last year and not disgraced behind Legatissimo in the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.
Mick Channon's Malabar, a winner at Glorious Goodwood, Barry Hills' Fadhayyil, winner of the City of York Stakes, Martyn Meade's French Guineas runner-up Irish Rookie and Roger Varian's Realtra, two from two since switching from Richard Fahey, complete the field.
