Having already garnered one fillies' Classic in Europe, Gestut Ittlingen's Lovelyn (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) returns to native soil on Sunday to bid to add another as she lines up for the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana, or German Oaks, at Dusseldorf. Having annexed the G2 Oaks d'Italia over 11 furlongs at the San Siro, the bay was toughened further when beating the older colts in Hamburg's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis over an extra furlong June 28. Representing France is Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard's Desiree Clary (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), who was beaten around two lengths when fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane over 10 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly June 14, and that form makes her the marginal favorite. Just over two lengths further behind in eighth on that occasion was Lovelyn's stable companion Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who looked in need of extra distance staying on from rear. Previously, Stall Nizza's chestnut had won Hoppegarten's G2 Diana-Trial over 10 furlongs May 24, while another to have won a significant pointer is Gestut Rottgen's homebred Anna Katharina (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}) in the G3 Hamburger Stuten-Preis at this distance at Hamburg July 4.
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