G1 Prix de Diane Longines

Up in trip for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}--Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) edged another close-run affair in a French Classic in 2024. Held up at the back early by Tony Piccone, the 15-1 shot had to pass runners all quickening off a moderate tempo, but had miling speed which set her apart from her middle-distance rivals. With virtually every rival still to get by two out, the Patrice-Cottier-trained bay who had won the G2 Prix de Sandringham here a...

Per usual, entrants in the latest Classic on the European calendar run the gamut from blueblooded homebreds and auction purchases at a range of prices. The luckless Tamfana is returning off her fourth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, and is one of the leading fancies, and there are several fresh shooters that will be trying Group 1 company for the first time from France and farther afield. Last year, Churchill's Blue Rose Cen took the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, and the Coolmore stallion is represented by the group-placed...

With all three of France's Classics staged so far in 2024 falling to unexposed types, Sunday's 175th edition of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly could be poised for more of the same as the fast-improving TDN Rising Star Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is asked her biggest question. Going from an 11-length win at Lyon-Parilly in November to a 3 1/2-length defeat of the subsequently listed-placed Wootton Zi (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Saint-Cloud's Prix Durban in April, Scuderia Dei Duepi, Ecurie des Charmes and Ballylinch...

Fourteen 3-year-old fillies will head to post for Sunday's €1,000,000 G1 Prix de Diane Longines after final declarations were made Thursday morning. David Menuisier representative and likely favourite Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who was last seen running fourth in Newmarket's G1 1000 Guineas, has been allocated stall four. His Highness The Aga Khan's G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) is towards the outside in 12 while Godolphin's Andre Fabre trainee Rock'n Swing (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was drawn next door in 13. Godolphin is double-handed with...

Beaten only once since her debut and now the proud owner of two Group 1 titles including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) goes into the unknown on Sunday as she bids to extend her tally in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. So assured at ParisLongchamp, where she also garnered the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day, the G3 Prix d'Aumale in September and G3 Prix de la Grotte in April, Yeguada Centurion SL's prized homebred now has to conquer new territory and...

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...

There were the usual winners and losers in equal measure during Thursday's draw for Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines, with David Howden's Listed Pretty Polly S. winner Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) receiving stall 12 of 15 in Sunday's 10 1/2-furlong Classic. Despite that unfavourable post position and her antics in the starting gate ahead of the Epsom Oaks, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is deemed the likely favourite ahead of Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) who drew...

Prime Equestrian's €150,000 Arqana August graduate Secretive (Fr) (Justify--Media Mischief, by Into Mischief) backed up a debut success at Deauville last November with a comfortable three-length tally on sophomore return in Monday's Prix du Chateau over one mile at Chantilly. The daughter of $550,000 Keeneland November mare Media Mischief (Into Mischief) is entered in both May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and June 18 G1 Prix de Diane, with trainer Yann Barberot stating the former is on the agenda after taking in one more run next month. 2nd-Chantilly, €28,000,...

If riding Classic winners came down to sheer ability alone, there was never a question that Hollie Doyle would achieve the landmark sometime soon but even the best need the horse to get it done and on Sunday she had just that as Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) conquered Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. So good by this point, Doyle has almost transcended the subject of female jockeys winning Europe's monuments but it still had to happen and in Imad Al Sagar's TDN Rising Star she had the ideal portal...

High fashion and summer celebration moves from Ascot to Chantilly on Sunday, with the G1 Prix de Diane Longines the feature prize. Imad Al Sagar's 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) comes off a fine third in the Oaks over a mile-and-a-half trip that may have stretched her and provided she is suffering no major hangover from that effort is primed to provide Hollie Doyle with her first Classic. With honours roughly even in recent times between the French and the visitors, she presents a major obstacle to the...

Ensuring there was no repeat of the Prix du Jockey Club double-draw farce, an independent bailiff was on hand to oversee Thursday morning's presentation for the 173rd edition of Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Proceedings concluded without hitch, with the overnight pre-confirmations all standing their ground and a final field of 18 is set to head postward for Sunday's €1,000,000 10 1/2-furlong Classic, turfdom's very own Competition of Elegance. Imad Al Sagar's G1 Cazoo Oaks third Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is among the nominees and has drawn gate two,...