by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson
From homebreds, to pricy auction purchases, the 15 G1 Prix de Diane Longines's contenders run the gamut of backgrounds. G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) will try to add another Classic to her resume, but she faces strong competition in the form of the unbeaten Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and the Gosdens' Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) among others.
NOVAKAI (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire)–Elasia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Trainer: Karl Burke
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Her 92-rated dam won at up to 1m6f and is from the family of quirky but talented stayer Pallasator (GB). From a stable in rich form, she was second to subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister in the G3 Musidora S. on her sole start this season. A maiden winner on debut at two, she was later runner-up in both the G2 May Hill and G1 Fillies' Mile. A surprise not to see her start in the Oaks as she should stay beyond the distance of the Diane.
Wow! Novakai, a daughter of Lope De Vega, makes a hugely impressive debut at @DoncasterRaces for @karl_burke and @tomeaveswigan… pic.twitter.com/Eg3Y7okoQV
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 16, 2022
JANNAH ROSE (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire})
Owner: Al Shira'aa Farms
Breeder: John Hayes
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Sales History: €650,000 Goffs Orby yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A half-sister to the Group 2 winner Creggs Pipes (Ire), she is unbeaten in her three lifetime starts, including once last year and most recently in the G1 Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. A real class act who should start close to favourite.
PENSEE DU JOUR (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Painter's Pride (Fr) (Dansili {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd
Breeder: Dayton Investments Ltd
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: From a family which includes the brilliant Arc winner and sire Peintre Celebre, she is a half-sister to the Meydan Group 3 winner Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) and has looked very smart in her three runs this year. Never beaten to date, she won on Chantilly's all-weather track in February before coping well with soft conditions to post easy victories in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai and G3 Prix Penelope. A smart prospect if she can handle faster turf than she has encountered so far.
The unbeaten Pensee Du Jour is going for Classic glory on Sunday!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 13, 2023
KHAHIRA (FR), Pedro The Great–Excitante (Fr) (Excelebration {Ire})
Owner: Andy Claire, Abdel-Hakim Benahmed & Nour-Eddine Smail
Breeder: Mme J-H De Chevigny
Trainer: Myriam Bollack-Badel
Sales History: €25,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Her dam was placed once at two over 6f and is herself out of a 6f Listed-winning juvenile. Khahira was highly tried at two, but was consistently in the first three and eventually won her sixth of seven starts last year, at Deauville. Kept on the go through the winter, she has made another five appearances this year, including when third in the Listed Prix de la Seine. This looks a tough assignment.
LINDY (FR), Le Havre (Ire)–Llanita (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Everest Racing, Ecurie Waldeck, Meridian International, Ecurie Elag, Ecurie Nininoe, Didier Provost & Frank Dhooghe
Breeder: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl
Trainer: Christophe Ferland
Sales History: €90,000 Arqana August yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Runner-up in both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G3 Prix de la Grotte to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) having previously been unbeaten in three starts, including at Listed level. She has a decent chance to become her late sire's third winner of the Diane.
TASMANIA (GER), Australia (GB)-Tusked Wings (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger})
Owner/Breeder: Gestut Schlenderhan
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Her dam won the G2 Diana Trial, was fourth in the G1 Preis der Diana, and produced the Listed-placed Task (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) as her first foal. Grand-dam Tucana (Ger) Acatenango (Ger) is a half-sister to Tertullian (Miswaki), from a long established Schlenderhan family. Tasmania looks very much an improving sort, who built on her debut fourth in October last year by winning maiden and conditions races in Paris, in the latter beating subsequent G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Ottery (GB). An interesting each-way prospect who should cope with stepping up in trip in time.
Gestut Schlenderhan-homebred TASMANIA breaks her maiden
Australia 3yo, dam Gr2 Tusked Wings
3×4 Sadlers Wells & 4×4 Allegretta, her 4th dam, plus 5×5 Allegretta's dam Alya pic.twitter.com/c72YhMAen1
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) April 7, 2023
RUNNING LION (GB), Roaring Lion–Bella Nouf (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: D P Howden
Breeder: The Bella Nouf Partnership
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A half-sister to Group 3 winner Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), her dam is a dual-winning half-sister to three black-type performers. Impressive winner of the Listed Pretty Polly S. in May and was among the leading fancies for the Oaks but was scratched at the start when unruly in the stalls. As long as there is no repeat drama she could go close.
Seriously impressive Roaring Lion filly! Running Lion devours her rivals for the Gosdens and @D_Muscutttt at @LingfieldPark… pic.twitter.com/rD73gvVPmc
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 6, 2022
ELUSIVE PRINCESS (FR), Martinborough (Jpn)–Elusive Action (Fr) (Elusive City)
Owner: LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams & Jean-Philippe Dubois
Breeder/Trainer: Jean-Philippe Dubois
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A daughter of the Group 3-winning Deep Impact stallion Martinborough, she is the first foal of her unraced dam who traces back to a Lagardere family which includes the Group 2 winner Diamond Mix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). The winner of both starts last year, and again on debut this season at Saint-Cloud in April, she has subsequently been a close second in the G3 Prix Cleopatre and was then runner-up to Jannah Rose in G1 Prix Saint-Alary, for which she was supplemented. Doesn't need to have improved much to play a leading role.
Three on the bounce for Martinborough (Deep Impact) 3yo ELUSIVE PRINCESS beating the boys in the Prix Tourbillon.@Harasdegrandcam @FRBC_Official @francesire pic.twitter.com/uDOWYKhK05
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) April 2, 2023
NEVER ENDING STORY (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/ Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Won the G3 Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle 1000 Guineas Trial S. and was fifth in the Poules d'Essai des Pouliches, having placed at Group 1 level in France at two. She is out of a GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. winner and is Athena's first foal. From the family of Urban Sea (Miswaki), which is replete with Group 1 winners, the granddaughter of Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert) is a live chance, but must continue to improve.
Exciting filly.
Never Ending Story (Dubawi) justifies her odds-on billing on Group debut, landing the Silver Flash Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/MWuXCG4HK3
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 21, 2022
CAROLINE STREET, No Nay Never–Harvestfortheworld (Ire) (So You Think (NZ)
Owner: Marc Detempel & Michael Buckley
Breeder: Grantley Acres, R Conner & R Davidson
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Sales History: $200,000 Fasig-Tipton NY Saratoga Select yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Successful in last month's G3 Blue Wind S., the Kentucky-bred is the first foal out of the G3 Gallinule S. third Harvestfortheworld and is from the extended family of G1 Phoenix S. winner Pharaoh's Delight (Ire) (Fairy King). If the chips fall her way, she could grab a piece of the spoils.
Blue Wind Stakes (G3)
2.010 m – 65.000 EUR – for 3yo mares
NaasCaroline Street (IRE)
(No Nay Never – Hatvestfortheworld, by So You Think)
J : Dylan Browne McMonagle
T :Joseph Patrick O'Brien
O :Marc Detampel & Michael Buckleypic.twitter.com/90WGlI4g40— (@WorldRacing1) May 6, 2023
LEFT SEA (GB), Frankel (GB)–Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Another contesting the French Oaks on the back of a victory is this homebred filly, who rolled to a three-length win in the Listed Prix Melisande at ParisLongchamp earlier this month. The second foal and winner out of G1 Prix Vermeille heroine and 2016 Diane second Left Hand, Left Sea is kin to French Oaks third Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). Although she carries family history with this Classic, Left Sea faces a tough challenge.
LADY EWELINA (GB), Mukhadram (GB)–Quadri (GB) (Polish Precedent)
Owner: Westminster Race Horses GMBH
Breeder: Lady Legard
Trainer: Andreas Wohler
Sales History: 3,500gns Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The undefeated German group winner is the 16th and final foal out of Quadri, and a half-sister to New Zealand Group 1 winner Turn Tide (GB) (Medicean {GB}). Her second dam is a half-sister to American champion Wandesta (GB) (Nashwan), and if her form translates to Chantilly, she will be right there.
Schwarzgold-Rennen (G3)
1.600 m – 55.000 EUR – for 3yo mares
KölnLady Ewelina (GB)
(3F Mukhadram – Quadri, by Polish Precedent)
J :Eduardo Pedroza
T : @RennstallAW
O :Westminster Race Horses GmbH
B :Lady Legard
Tamarinde (Amaron)
Bärbelchen pic.twitter.com/glej86ZEuI— (@WorldRacing1) May 7, 2023
ROMINA POWER (FR), Le Havre (Ire)–Rockatella (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Stables
Breeder: Ecurie Haras du Cadran & SCEA Bissons
Trainer: Michael Figge
Sales History: €10,000 Arqana October yearling; €20,000 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge 2-year-old
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: This filly broke her maiden in her eighth start, the Listed Tattersalls Diana Trial at Baden-Baden last time, and her dual Italian stakes-winning dam was also placed thrice at group level in Europe. Part of the immortal Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}) clan, Romina Power must continue to progress if she is to make an impact on Sunday.
Tattersalls Diana Trial(Listed)
1.800 m – 25.000 EUR – for 3yo mares
Baden -BadenRomina Power (FR)
(3F Le Havre – Rockatella ,by Rock Of Gibraltar)
J : Augustin Madamet
T: Michael Figge
O :Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Stables
B :Ecurie Haras Du Cadran & SCEA Bissons pic.twitter.com/PVwwTnh4Fe— (@WorldRacing1) May 20, 2023
BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy)
Owner/Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SL
Trainer: Christopher Head
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A Group 1 winner at two and already successful in the G1 Poules d'Essai des Pouliches this year, the homebred is the first reported foal for G3 Park Express S. heroine Queen Blossom, who also won the GIII Santa Barbara S. in the U.S. Her granddam was placed in the G3 Silver Flash S., and Blue Rose Cen has every chance of adding another Classic laurel. Breaking from the favourable inside gate, she is the one to beat.
Prix De La Grotte (G3)
1.600 m ,80.000 EUR , for 3yo mares
LongchampBlue Rose Cen (IRE)
(Churchill -Queen Blossom, by Jeremy)
J : A. Lemaitre
T : C. Head
B & O : Yeguda Centurion pic.twitter.com/U7LkBoBQW0— (@WorldRacing1) April 16, 2023
WISE GIRL (FR), Recoletos (Fr)–Darma (Fr) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SL
Trainer: Christopher Head
Sales History: €105,000 Arqana October yearling buy-back
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Bearing her breeder's second colours, this filly won at Chantilly in May, and is a half-sister to the useful stakes winner Dariyma (Fr) (City Zip), who was third in the G2 Prix Dollar. The relative of French Classic winners Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) is facing her first black-type race on Sunday. A win here would be a shock.
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