The Lowdown: Prix De Diane Longines

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 Survie.

CANDALA (FR)
Frankel (GB)–Candarliya (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: This Aga Khan homebred has won her last two starts, including the G3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp in May. The dam won the G2 Prix de Royallieu, and G3 Prix Minerve with a second in the G1 Prix Vermeille at three and was back in the winner's circle in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil at four. Her renowned owner/breeder has won this event a record seven times, most recently with Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) in 2012. A half-sister to the stakes-placed Carini (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Candala will be one of the likelier winners in this return.

PARAIBA (FR)
Soldier Hollow (GB)–Pearls Or Passion (Fr) (Monsun {Ger})
Pedigree/form notes: After a debut win, this full-sister to G3 Prix de Royaumont scorer Pelligrina (Ire) ran second to Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB} at Chantilly on May 11. Her dam won the Listed Prix Panacee and this is the famed 'Pearl' family developed by Haras de Saint Pair and headed by Group 1 winner Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}), the granddam of Paraiba. The trip should hold no fears for this Al Shahania Stud-bred filly, especially as the ground was very soft in that 2400-metre affair.

SURVIE (IRE)
Churchill (Ire)–Sotteville (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: Bred and raced by Gerard Augustin-Normand under his Franklin Finance banner, the relation to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud herone Seralia (GB) (Royal Academy) is out of a two-time French group winner. She has been knocking on the door of a black-type win with a pair of group placings behind Dare To Dream (G3 Prix Vanteaux) and Birthe (G2 Prix Saint-Alary), but this is a tough ask.

SPARKLING PLENTY (FR)
Kingman (GB)–Speralita (Fr) (Frankel {GB})
Sales info: This filly was a €600,000 buy-back when offered by Haras des Capucines at the Arqana August Sale in 2022.
Pedigree/form notes: A last-out winner of the G2 Prix de Sandringham, the Jean-Pierre Dubois homebred is a full-sister to G3 Jersey S. scorer and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium second Noble Truth (Fr). Her dam is a half-sister to the great six-time top-tier winner Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Regardless, Sparkling Plenty holds a live hand.

DANCE SEQUENCE (GB)
Dubawi (Ire)–Tearless (GB) (Street Cry {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: The third black-type horse produced by listed winner Tearless, Dance Sequence is the sixth foal out of her dam, and her elder half-sister Romantic Song (Ire) (Shamardal) won at listed level in Germany. Hailing from one of the best families in the stud book as a great granddaughter of Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), this Godolphin homebred was already second in the G1 Betfred Oaks. Dance Sequence is aiming to go one better in the French equivalent and she just might do it.

ROCK'N SWING (GB)
Camelot (GB)–Ragsah (Ire) (Shamardal)
Pedigree/form notes: The sixth foal out of G3 Firth of Clyde S. victress Ragsah, herself a half-sister to the ill-fated star Dubai Millennium (GB), Rock'n Swing is part of the iconic Fall Aspen family and counts GII Goldikova S. third Richmond Avenue (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as a half-sister. Yet another filly bearing the royal blue of Godolphin, this Andre Fabre trainee sports two wins, but was soundly beaten when seventh in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May. Never say never, but this appears to be an uphill battle.

L'EQUILIBRISTE (FR)
Dream Ahead–Delinda (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Sales info: Troy Steve Bloodstock plucked this daughter of the unraced Delinda out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale for €10,000 when offered by Ecurie d'Auge.
Pedigree/form notes: Yet to test the waters at group level, this Listed Prix Finlande-winning filly and half-sister to fellow listed winner Iznik (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), was bred by Haras de Gratte Panche, Michel Dardenne and Samy Torgeman. Although by a standout sprinter in Bearstone Stud's Dream Ahead, this filly has a better chance of lasting the trip than is first apparent, as her first three dams are by Sea The Stars (Ire), Selkirk and Doyoun (Ire), with the latter a full-sister to European/American champion Daylami (Ire), and a half-sister to fellow Euro champ Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Has heaps of potential, but it remains to be seen whether she can mix it up with fillies of this calibre.

BIRTHE (IRE)
Study Of Man (Ire)–Barakaat (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire})
Sales info: Tara Stud consigned the bay to the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale, where she brought €10,000 on the bid of JD Moore. She later breezed at the Arqana Summer Sale, where she was bought by Tina Rau and her trainer Laura Vanska for €12,000.
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Sabah Mubarak Al Sabah, the first foal out of her winning dam triumphed in the Listed Prix Caravelle and G2 Prix Saint-Alary in succession in April and May, respectively. From the same family as GI Santa Anita Oaks heroine Ariege (Doneraile Court), she undoubtedly will continue to thrive as she matures. Could grab a piece of the action.

DARE TO DREAM (FR)
Camelot (GB)–Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire})
Sales info: This March foal was offered by co-breeder Ecurie des Monceaux at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, and was knocked down to Gavin Hernon for €67,000. Monceaux, Meridian International and Scuderia Waldeck SNC are the breeders on her page.
Pedigree/form notes: She is one of three winners for her multiple stakes-placed dam, herself a half-sister to German Horse of the Year and Arc scorer Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {Ger}). Stubbed her toe as the favourite in the Saint-Alary, but the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner could easily rebound here.

TAMFANA (GER)
Soldier Hollow (GB)–Tres Magnifique (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire})
Sales info: A mere €20,000 BBAG September yearling from the draft of Gestut Etzean, the bay was purchased by Jeremy Brummitt.
Pedigree/form notes: The winner of the G3 Prix Miesque is kin to GI Beverly D. S. winner Sea Calisi (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) among other turf luminaries. Absolutely luckless in the running of the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas when lacking room but eventually able to snatch fourth, the Etzean and Hans-Helmut Rodenburg-bred is one of the major players here.

GALA REAL (FR)
Wootton Bassett (GB)–Cala Violina (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire})
Sales info: Meridian International shelled out €270,000 for this filly from the Haras de la Louviere consignment during the Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: Both her granddam–Aigue Marine (GB) (Galileo {Ire})–and her great granddam Aiglonne (Silver Hawk) won at the group/graded level. This 'TDN Rising Star' was bred by Noir et Or Elevage and Ecurie Skymarc Farm and was a last-start winner–over Aventure–of the Listed Prix de la Seine. Moving in the right direction, but needs to show another level on Sunday.

BUBBLE GUM (FR)
Cloth Of Stars (Ire)–Bambara (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire})
Sales info: Part of the Haras du Buff draft, the Rashit Shaykhutdinov hombred was a €70,000 buy-back out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: A two-time winner in three starts, this relation to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Nezwaah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has yet to race in black-type company, but is a half-sister to Listed Prix Finlande third Roman Bamb (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

AVENTURE (IRE)
Sea The Stars (Ire)–Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: The Wertheimer et Frere-bred bay is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and Diane second Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and two other black-type horses, including the G1 Prix Jean Romanet third Romanciere (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Their dam's biggest day in the sun was a tally in the G2 Prix de Royallieu and she is a half-sister to the high class G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). One of the most consistent fillies in this the field, this 'TDN Rising Star' and seven-length G3 Prix de Royaumont heroine could make the leap to the big leagues with a win here.

HALFDAY (FR)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Daytime (GB) (Frankel {GB})
Pedigree/form notes: Another runner in the light blue and white Wertheimer colours, this homebred won the G3 Prix Cleopatre in striking style over recent €630,000 Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale alum and listed winner Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in April. Her dam is out of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who won a sextet of Group/Grade 1s on either side of the Atlantic. She has the pedigree, but Halfday will need a bit of luck to prevail.