Tamfana (Ger)

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...

Former champion jockey Oisin Murphy will ride G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 21. Murphy replaces Aurelien Lemaitre. The filly, who earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge on debut, was third to the re-opposing Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) at Newmarket. The G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine was second to dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Prix Morny at two. In her 3-year-old bow,...

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...

With the European Classics around the corner, expect an explosion of activity over the next few days beginning at Deauville on Tuesday with the G3 Prix Imprudence and G3 Prix Djebel. TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle (Justify) lines up in the former, stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time after a storming juvenile campaign that saw her take the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix du Bois and finish a narrow second to Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Prix Morny here in August. Godolphin's Listed...

David Menuisier, fresh off the Group 1 victory of Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in this week's Criterium International, remains on the crest of a wave and, having combined with Marie Velon to snag the Chantilly undercard's Listed Prix Isonomy earlier on Friday, legged up the rider once more to complete an afternoon black-type double with Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}--Tres Magnifique {Fr}, by Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Miesque. The March-foaled bay hit the board going an extended seven furlongs at Ffos Las in her Sept. 14 debut and...