Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) will attempt to gain compensation for her luckless run in the G1 1,000 Guineas when she makes her next appearance in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday, June 16.
Trained by David Menuisier, Tamfana confirmed herself a high-class filly when finishing fourth at Newmarket, passing the post less than a length behind the winner and looking unlucky not to get closer still having endured a troubled passage.
Now all roads lead to Chantilly and the next stage of a plan which has been a long time in the making according to Eamonn O'Connor, managing director of owners Quantum Leap Racing.
“We've had this plan in mind over the winter, that it [the Prix de Diane] would be her main target,” O'Connor said. “Whatever she did then [at Newmarket], we expected her to step up for the trip that the Diane offers, so that's where we will go.
“We're pretty confident she'll stay at least that–most of the horses that Quantum Leap Racing buy are horses with a staying pedigree. It will be a great day out, I know that from previous experience. We'll enjoy it and we're looking forward to the season beyond.”
Reflecting on Tamfana's run at Newmarket, O'Connor added, “David and I had a conversation as we were still in two minds about whether to go to France, but he thought the filly was good enough to win the English Guineas and I don't think he was wrong.
“We had a tremendous day, the members had the best day of racing most of them have ever had. We didn't win but it felt like we did. There was some mixed emotion afterwards about what could have been, but it's churlish to take anything away from the winner of a race like that and start going on about your own hard luck. We didn't win, but in truth we did come home thinking we had the best filly.
“David has never lacked faith in her. On the day she arrived she didn't look like a €20,000 horse, that's for certain. He genuinely wasn't surprised by the run. A little bit gutted, I guess, that he didn't get his Classic winner but not at all surprised that she ran so well.”
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