11 runners in the Diane Longines and 17 in the Jockey Club
Photo: scoopdyga.com
The runners of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1) were declared on Thursday morning. 11 will start in the €600,000 Diane Longines after the supplementation of Miss Extra, as the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner Tawkeel was finally withdrawn. 17 will compete in the €900,000 Jockey Club.
In the French Derby, Victor Ludorum, winner of the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1) leads the ratings and should face two fancied unbeaten colts in Port Guillaume and Hurricane Dream, the rags to riches story of the Chantilly classic this year. Among the Diane Longines' fillies, while Tawkeel is out, the next three home in the Saint-Alary are in, and so are the French One Thousand Guineas placed fillies. The Coronation Stakes (Gr1) winner at Royal Ascot, Alpine Star spices up the French Classic, and so do the Irish Thousand Guineas winner and second Peaceful and Fancy Blues. Raabiyah, impressive last time out at Paris Longchamp in the Prix de la Seine (L ), is another intriguing prospect left in the race by Shadwell Stud, who could also have relied on Tawkeel …
A full preview of the runners will be published here tomorrow Friday.