16 start in Prix de Diane Longines

Sixteen fillies have been confirmed to run in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), on Sunday at Chantilly scenic racecourse.

The best fillies seen in action in France this Spring are all in : Terrakova (Galileo), a daughter of the great Goldikova, so impressive in the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3), Prix Pénélope (Gr3) winner Sistercharlie (Myboycharlie), now owned by Mrs Jacques Cygler and her new parner White Birch Farm (Peter Brant), Monroe Bay (Makfi),  who won the Prix Finlande (L) for Jean-Louis Bouchard and Chryss O'Reilly, or the Godolphin Kitesurf (Dubawi), winner on QIPCO Jockey Club day of the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3), and Onthemoonagain (Cape Cross), winner last time out in Toulouse of the Prix Caravelle-Haras des Granges (L).

Epsom Oaks (Gr1) and One Thousand Guineas (Gr1) 2nd Rhododendron (Galileo) leads the Aidan O’Brien's charge, while Sobetsu (Dubawi) was the major defector at the declaration of runners, on Thursday, in this mouthwatering 168^th Prix de Diane Longines.

For the first time, a female jockey will take part in this French classic as Maryline Eon will ride Yellow Storm (Tiberius Caesar) for trainer Alain Couetil. The young woman has won 108 races in France, including 21 over jumps, since her debut in 2010. France Galop has launched a program to boost female participation in French racing with a 2kgs claim on most races for female riders.

Amelie Foulon (pictured above) is the only female rider to have won a Group race in France so far, since she won the 2015 Grand Prix de VIchy (Gr3) with Elliptique.