The 16 runners of the Prix de Diane Longines 2017

1 - SHUTTER SPEED (Draw 14) 

Trainer: John Gosden 

Owner: Khalid Abdullah 

Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori 

The English Shutter Speed is one of two fillies to line up in this race unbeaten. This attribute is far from being unusual in a winner of this race: La Cressonnière in 2016, Avenir Certain in 2014, Trêve in 2013, Valyra in 2012, and Golden Lilac in 2011, all also came to race having never suffered defeat. Shutter Speed has run three times, twice this year, and was impressive last time out in the Musidora Stakes (Group 3). She belongs to Khalid Abdullah, is trained by John Gosden and will be ridden by Lanfranco Dettori. This is the trio who won the Epsom Oaks, the English equivalent of our Prix de Diane Longines, two weeks ago with Enable. The verdict of the crack jockey is without doubt: for him, Shutter Speed is better than Enable over 2,100 meters. If that is indeed the case, we don’t need to look nay further for the winner! John Gosden and Lanfranco Dettori won this race in 2015 with Star of Seville, who was coming off a disappointing run in the Oaks. 

2 – NORMANDIE (Draw 2) 

Trainer: Pia Brandt 

Owners: Laurent Dassault, Cofinvest and Haras d’Etreham 

Jockey: Grégory Benoist 

Normandie has one win under her belt, in a maiden over a mile at Maisons-Laffitte. She is a daughter of Redoute’s Choice who has his first ever runners in the Chantilly Classic. Her second dam won the Preis der Diana (Gr1), the German equivalent of the Prix de Diane. Normandie is coming off an eighth place in the Prix Finlande (Listed) behind Monroe Bay. These two fillies will meet again on Sunday at Chantilly. It is her first attempt at this level. However, at 2, she finished second to Thaïs in a maiden. This latter has just won the Prix des Lilas (Listed). Normandie will be running for this first time over this distance. She is entered in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Pia Brandt, the trainer of Normandie, cut through the ranks of the French trainers in spectacular fashion last year. Of Swedish nationality, she is based in Chantilly and won her first Group 1 in 2016. With Camprock, she had a runner, but without success, in last year’s Diane. 

3 - MONROE BAY (Draw 3) 

Owners: Écurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Lady Chryss O’Reilly 

Trainer: Pascal Bary 

Jockey: Gérald Mossé 

Monroe Bay won her ticket to the Prix de Diane Longines by winning the Prix Finlande, a Listed run over 1.800 meters on the 28th May. Other than that, this filly, who is owned in partnership by Jean-Louis Bouchard and Chryss O’Reilly, was very disappointing in The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Group 1), where she was not very cooperative. Pascal decided to run her in blinkers, and this seems to have worked. The filly had looked classy when second in the Prix Vanteaux (Group 3), a short head from Gold Luck. She won on her 2-year-old debut in the Prix de la Cascade. She beat Turf Laurel that day, who will also be lining up on Sunday. 

4 – HAYA OF FORTUNE (Draw 16) 

Trainer: Norbert Leenders 

Owner: Odette Fau 

Jockey: Théo Bachelot 

Haya of Fortune will be the first runner in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), and in a Group 1, for Norbert Leenders, a very experienced trained based in the Mayenne. Odette Fau, the owner and breeder of the filly, has already had a runner in this race. This was in 2011, with Haya Landa, the sister of Haya of Fortune, who finished fourth in this race when Golden Lilac won. Odette Fau runs several restaurants, so the well known ‛Au vieux Paris d'Arcole’ is not afraid of a challenge. Haya Landa ran in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with an outside chance. She nonetheless managed to finish fourth. Haya of Fortune looks to be following in the footsteps of her elder sister. The filly is coming off a win in a handicap at Chantilly over 2,000 meters. She got her black type last year when finishing third in the Prix Étalons la Cauvinière - Critérium de l'Ouest (L). 

5 - SENGA (Draw 8) 

Trainer: Pascal Bary 

Owner: Flaxman Stables Ireland L.T.D. 

Jockey: Stéphane Pasquier 

Senga will be running for the first time over 2,100 meters in the Prix de Diane Longines, having never gone further than 1.600 metres. Her performance in the Prix de Sandringham, a Group 2 which ran on the 4th June, has clearly influenced her connections. The filly finished third in this race, and took her time to accelerate, which could indicate that she needs further to run to her best. 

Senga showed that she had ability at the age of 2, running three times. She notably finished fourth in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac, a Group 1 which crowns the best 2 year old in France. She didn’t have an ideal race, but finished like a bullet. For her comeback at 3, she won the Prix de la Grotte - Étalon Kendargent, a Group 3 prep for the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, or for the English equivalent, the 1,000 Guineas. She took her time to come with run that day. Staying in France, Senga finished eleventh in the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Group 1 over a mile at Deauville. One can draw a line through this performance, as the ground was soft that day and Senga did not like it, and never looked comfortable in her action. Her connections have decided to let her take her chance in the Prix de Diane rather than the Coronation Stakes, Group 1 over 1,600 meters at Royal Ascot. Senga needs to improve on her previous runs, but if the ground is quick, could have a good chance. 

6 – KITESURF (Draw 12) 

Trainer: André Fabre 

Owner: Godolphin 

Jockey: Mickaël Barzalona 

André Fabre has won the Prix de Diane Longines four times. The Chantilly trainer’s most recent success was in 2011 with Golden Lilac. In 2017, he runs Kitesurf, a daughter of Dubawi. Only one of the Darley top class stallion’s progeny has been on a Classic podium: Left Hand in 2016. Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum has won this race twice. His homebred Kitesurf is coming off a convincing win in the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3), over 2.400 metres on good-soft ground. The filly is improving. Both her wins came over 2.400 metres. She was beaten on both her attempts over shorter. On the 7th May, else was second by two lengths in the Prix de la Seine (Listed), over 2.200 metres at Chantilly, beaten by Musawaah. The connections of Kitesurf suggested that she would be better over 2.400 metres. And so it was, over this distance in the Royaumont, that the André Fabre-trained filly beat Musawaah decisively. 

7 - ONTHEMOONAGAIN (Draw: 10) 

Owners: Jean-Louis Tepper/Gérard Augustin-Normand 

Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget 

Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 

Onthemoonagain has an unusual profile in that she has only run once this year. This was at Toulouse, in the Prix Caravalle - Haras des Granges, a Listed for fillies only. Onthemoonagain won decisively, and confirmed that she has the ability she hinted at 2 years old, when she finished her season with a third place in the Prix des Réservoirs, Group 3 also for fillies. Onthemoonagain has avoided any hard races, and this freshness could work in her favour. She has proved that the distance is no problem for her. She is owned in partnership by Jean-Louis Tepper and Gérard Augustin-Normand. The silks of the latter shone in this race last year with La Cressonnière and in 2014 with Avenir Certain. They were both trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, just like Onthemoonagain! 

8 – YELLOW STORM (Draw 5) 

Trainer: Alain Couétil 

Owners: Haras du Logis, Alexandre & Sandra Karnikian 

Jockey: Maryline Éon 

Yellow Storm will be an attraction in herself, as she will be ridden by a female jockey, Marilyn Éon, which is a first in the history of the race. Maryline Éon has just received an award at the Gala des Courses, with the trophy for champion female jockey: she won the most races last year. Yellow Storm is one of four runners on the track for the little known Tiberius Caesar. This latter won a Groupe 3 over a mile at 4 and carried on running for four more seasons. He is now a teaser at haras du Logis and so has very few foals. He is the sire of Tiberian, recent winner of the Prix d’Hédouville (Gr3). Trained by Alain Couétil, as is Tiberian, Yellow Storm is coming off a win in the Prix Dominique Ingres, a Class 2 over 2.300 metres at Senonnes-Pouancé. Before this win, she had only run twice, finishing 12th and 10th. The filly, owned by haras du Logis and Alexandre and Sandra Karnikian starts in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) as an outsider as she has the weakest record. She is trained in the West. Alain Couétil is one of the best known province trainers and he regularly has runners in Group 1s, but never at Classic level. 

9 – MADEMOISELLE MARIE (Draw 9) 

Trainer: Keven Borgel 

Owner: LH 

Jockey: Tony Piccone 

The presence of Mademoiselle Marie in the Prix de Diane will be a first for the Calas training centre. Up until now, no filly trained in the Marseille region has ever run in the Chantilly Classic. She is also the first runner at this level for her trainer, Keven Borgel. He made a smart move when buying this filly out of a claiming race at 2. Very tough, she ran ten times in her 2-year-old season. With just one exception, she finished in the first five seven times from eight starts, with two wins at the end of her debut year in competition, including the Prix Delahante (Listed). This win incited her connections to take the route towards the Diane 2017. 

For her comeback at 3, Mademoiselle Marie was a good second in the Prix Rose de Mai (Listed). Still last 200 meters from the post, she finished very fast to go down by less than a length. Against the fillies that she will meet again here on Sunday, she then finished sixth in the Prix Pénélope (Group 3) and fifth in the Prix Cléopâtre (Group 3). The filly has worked well recently. 

10 - VUE FANTASTIQUE (Draw 15) 

Trainer: Fabrice Chappet 

Owner: Martin S. Schwartz Racing 

Jockey: Olivier Peslier 

Vue Fantastique comes from an in-form stable, that of the Chantilly trainer Fabrice Chappet. He won his first ever Group 1 a few weeks ago thanks to Précieuse, in the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. The next day, Vue Fantastique, a runner in the Prix de Diane Longines, finished second in The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary, another Group 1. She finished behind Sobetsu, who was since well beaten in the Epsom Oaks. However, the trainer of the latter felt that the 2,400 meters trip was too long for her. If Vue Fantastique cannot be considered as one of the favourites, she has a solid place chance, as she has improved on each of her starts. Her owner, the American Martin Schwartz, is a big fan of French fillies and of the Prix de Diane Longines in particular. He won the race in 2009 with Stacelita. 

11 - RHODODENDRON (Draw 11) 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 

Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor 

Jockey: Ryan Moore 

Rhododendron represents Ireland and Coolmore. She is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has yet to win the Prix de Diane Longines. Rhododendron is a classy filly. She ran five times at the age of 2, ending her year with a win in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile, a Group 1 that takes place in England, at Newmarket. Her trainer then gave her some time and she made her seasonal reappearance in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. She finished second to her stable 

companion Winter, who has since won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The connections of Rhododendron then chose to take the filly to the Epsom Oaks, the English equivalent to the Diane but over 2.400 meters. Rhododendron finished second to Enable, by five lengths, being unable to follow the winner’s acceleration. The distance and the soft ground were not her cup of tea. Over 2,100 meters and fast ground, she is one to be wary of. 

12 – PANTHELIA (Draw 7) 

Trainer: Philippe Sogorb 

Owner: Guy Pariente 

Jockey: Jean-Bernard Eyquem 

Philippe Sogorb is one of the biggest trainers in the South West. Already a winner of a Group 1, he is still looking for his first Classic success. This Sunday at Chantilly, he presents Panthelia, a filly belonging to Guy Pariente. This owner and breeder has already won a Classic (the Poule d’Essai des Poulains 2013 with Style Vendôme, as the breeder). He has also bred some useful fillies by Gentlewave (the sire of Panthelia), notably Pagera (second in the EP Taylor Stakes, Gr1). 

Panthelia began her racing career this year with a very impressive win in a maiden race at Toulouse. Highly esteemed by her connections, she then disappointed at Toulouse, finishing sixth in the Prix Caravelle - Haras des Granges (Listed) to Onthemoonagain, another candidate for the Chantilly Classic. The filly came back to form in the Prix Cléopâtre (Group 3). Despite hitting traffic and after a hard race, she finished second, less than a length to Terrakova, the French favourite for the Diane. 

13 – TURF LAUREL (Draw 13) 

Trainer: Satoshi Kobayashi 

Owner: Takaya Shimakawa 

Jockey: Cristian Demuro 

With Turf Laurel, Satoshi Kobayashi is making his first attempt at Classic level. He is the only trainer of Japanese origins to train in France. The filly is running over 2,100 meters for the first time, and with the exception of her damsire Teofilo, there is very little stamina in her pedigree. On Sunday, Turf Laurel will be one of the least experienced runners. She has only run three times. On her 2-year-old debut in September, she finished second in the Prix de la Cascade, between one other Prix de Diane hopeful, Monroe Bay. She was then second in the Prix des Réservoirs, a length in front of Onthemoonagain, who is also entered in the Chantilly Classic. The filly was the exported across the Atlantic before returning to France in March. That being the case, she was unable to take part in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Her only start in 2017, in the Prix Finlande (L), ended with a fifth place. She will only have had three weeks breathing space between the two runs. 

14 - FESTIVE (Draw 1) 

Owner: Alidar Utemuratov 

Trainer: Éric Saint-Martin 

Jockey: Julien Augé 

Festive will be one of the big outsiders in the race. Her owner, Alidar Utemuratov, supplemented the filly to run in the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1 in mid-May at Deauville), but Festive was never dangerous. She has not run since. 

The filly is trained by Éric Saint-Martin (son of the legendary Yves Saint-Martin and who himself was a great jockey, notably winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Urban Sea). 

15 - TERRAKOVA (Draw 4) 

Trainer: Freddy Head 

Owner: Wertheimer & Frère 

Jockey: Maxime Guyon 

Terrakova is blue-blooded. A daughter of Galileo, she will try to improve in this Prix de Diane Longines on her famous mother, the champion Goldikova, who finished third in 2008 in the edition won by the crack Zarkava. However Goldikova was a real 1,600 meters horse and Terrakova has more stamina than her. She is the only filly, along with Shutter Speed, to start unbeaten in the Prix de Diane. However she is still quite inexperienced, having only run twice. She won very easily in November 2016 on the all weather at Chantilly on her first start. It was six months before she was seen on the track again, as her trainer, Freddy Head, wanted to give her as much time as she needed to have her in the best possible condition. 

For her seasonal reappearance on the 23rd May, she won the Prix Cléopâtre, a Group 3. She didn’t win by very far, but she was bumped at the start and had to wait for a gap to open up, before accelerating well when she saw daylight. Terrakova’s limits are unknown; however traditionally the winners of the Prix Cléopâtre rarely go on to win the Prix de Diane. It hasn’t been done since 1976 and the champion Pawneese. Terrakova will try to do better than her aunt, Galikova, who won the Prix Cléopâtre before finishing second in the Prix de Diane. 

16 – SISTERCHARLIE (Draw 6) 

Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall 

Owners: Mrs Jacques Cygler & White Birch Farm 

Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot 

Thanks to her win in the Prix Pénélope (Gr3), Sistercharlie will be one of the favourite French runners in this Prix de Diane Longines. This filly, who prefers good ground, has won over 2,100 meters. She has won going left and right handed. Her trainer, Henri-Alex Pantall, won this race in 2007 with West Wind. Sistercharlie has already beaten some of the pretenders for this Prix de Diane 2017: Haya of Fortune, Listen In and Mademoiselle Marie. She is currently the best horse owned by Jacques Cygler who has had a lot of success with the progeny of Myboycharlie, bred by Écurie des Monceaux. Cheikeljack, last year’s winner of Prix Djebel, is notably one of these. 

After her last win, fifty percent of Sistercharlie was bought by the American owner Peter Brant (White Birch Farm). He was one of the big international owners in the 1980's and is making his big comeback onto the racing scene. For Sistercharlie, the Chantilly Classic will be her final race in the colours of Mrs Jacques Cygler. She holds several international entries: the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Beverly D Stakes, across the Atlantic, and the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (Group 1s).