G1 Prix de Diane Longines

After making sure that Ballydoyle's 1-2 favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) delivered in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Ryan Moore become the first jockey in history to win every English, Irish and French Classic. This was far from straightforward, with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine pushed all the way to the line by the 35-1 outsider Pink Panthera (Chachnak), who nearly stole it for France under Tony Piccone, but Moore was in his usual unflinching mood to hold on by a short neck. Inis Mor (Galiway)...

Should the Prix de Diane Longines favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) comply with all established logic at Chantilly on Sunday and deliver, it will be Classic win number seven in 2026 for Aidan O'Brien in a season he is threatening to define. Already one of the six herself, having conquered the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with the minimum of fuss four weeks ago, Ballydoyle's unbeaten starlet bids to join an elite band by adding this prestige affair to Longchamp's Classic and Prix Marcel Boussac. Remarkably, just a quartet have...

Eleven fillies will head postward for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly after declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Ryan Moore is set to partner G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine, and likely favourite, Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica), who has drawn stall three. Her Aidan O'Brien stablemate Moments Of Joy (Justify) will exit stall eight under Wayne Lordan. "Everything has gone well with Diamond Necklace since she won the French Guineas and I've been very happy with her," O'Brien commented, "The plan was...

Francis-Henri Graffard looked set to have the one-two-three in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines heading to the closing stages, but while that didn't transpire France's pre-eminent trainer of 2025 was ultimately in the right place as Gezora (Almanzor) brought it home. Continuing the timeless love affair between American interests and French racing, the daughter of the 2006 Diane runner-up Germance proved strongest in the Chantilly Classic to complete the Saint-Alary-Diane double for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. Sent off at 11-2 having upped her game last month at ParisLongchamp...

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 16:05, PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Cankoura (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Rosa Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), Zia Agnese (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: After two tussles with Zarigana that read like a soap opera, Shes Perfect looks to...

Taken down after the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) has a second bite of the cherry on Sunday in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Whether or not the pride and joy of the Basher Watts Racing Club would have mastered Zarigana in the ParisLongchamp Classic had she stayed on a true line is a matter of conjecture, but we know after her two fights with that Aga Khan Studs blueblood this term that she belongs in the top echelon of her generation. While this 10...

Saturday, Sandown, post time: 14:40, THE BETMGM SCURRY STAKES-Listed, £45,000, 3yo, 5f 10yT Field: Coto De Caza (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Kullazain (GB) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Marty Hopkirk (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Star Of Mehmas (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Hold A Dream (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), Pearl Of Wisdom (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Proudly Yours (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Town And Country (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Last year's G3 Cornwallis Stakes winner Coto De Caza returns under a penalty for that effort, which might make it tough against some already battle-hardened sprinters in this...

Friday, Cork, post time: 19:44, DARLEY MUNSTER OAKS STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT Field: Ameerat Jumaira (GB) (Australia {GB}), Bubble Gum (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Elizabeth Jane (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Magical Hope (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Satin (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sea The Boss (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Soft Winds (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Uluru (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Gotomylovely (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law). TDN Verdict: Elizabeth Jane signed off in 2024 with...

Last month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches demotee Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) heads a field of one dozen contenders for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines after Thursday morning's final declarations were announced for the €1-million Chantilly Classic. Basher Watts Racing's Charlie Fellowes trainee, who has drawn stall seven, will be reopposed by Princess Zahra Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star and Pouliches third Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), who will emerge from stall 10. Mandanaba will be accompanied by Francis Graffard stablemates Cankoura (Persian King) and G2 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Gezora (Almanzor), who...

The late Prince Aga Khan IV is the most successful owner in the history of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines with seven wins, and two fillies will carry the family's famous silks in Sunday's affair. Representing his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), while Cankoura (Persian King) will race in the Aga Khan Studs' colours. Both fillies are trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, with Mandanaba coming off a third in the G1 Prix d'Essai des Pouliches. Mandanaba carries further distinction as the final foal out of Princess Zahra's...

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...