16 June 2021
Antoine Griezmann, the striker of the French national team, is bracing himself for an unusual week: as, this evening, he will help launch ‘Les Bleus’ Euro 2021 campaign against Germany. Fast-forwarding to Sunday [June 20], his filly NATSUKASHI is due to contest the Prix de Diane Longines: Europe's top prize for three-year-old fillies!
Antoine Griezmann loves racing, a passion he inherited from his father, and which prompted his decision to become an owner in 2017. He has even embraced the role as ambassador for the Pari-Mutuel [French Tote] this year!
He entrusted NATSUKASHI to the care of a young trainer, Philippe Decouz, and the latter set up shop at the Chazey-sur-Ain training centre, in the Lyon region, in 2011. It’s also from where the Griezmann family originates. Since the start of the New Year, the trainer has chosen to base part of his string at Chantilly (Oise) - to the north of Paris. Chantilly revels in the role of being France’s biggest training centre, and one which is both renowned and admired the world over.
It’s in this particularly pleasant environment that NATSUKASHI is being fine-tuned for the classic. Despite not being among the favourites, a case can be made for NATSUKASHI, who has only raced twice to date (for a win and a second). As she is coming off a second in the Prix de la Seine, won by BURGARITA, and the latter is one of the leading fancies for Sunday’s feature.
Philippe Decouz said: “Antoine Griezmann is proud to have a runner at this level. From the outset, he began his quest when it came to sourcing very good horses. To have a runner in the Prix de Diane Longines is very exciting for him. Natsukashi sealed her passage for the Prix de Diane and she fits the profile for this type of race. We are anticipating that the race will attract a lot of fillies numerically, and we aren’t going into the race as one of the leading fancies. However, we have the right to have a crack, especially given what she has achieved in just two starts. Antoine Griezmann has given me a free hand. He's not someone who puts pressure on you. If he isn’t training [with the national team], he will, of course, be glued to a television screen so he can watch his filly. He's really into his racing! The filly was merely required to stretch her legs during her training on Tuesday morning. She’s in superb condition. In the wake of her first two outings, she has matured and has improved physically. Regarding the ground, Natsukashi acted well on soft ground at ParisLongchamp. It didn't seem to bother her. We will adapt our tactics according to the draw.
NATSUKASHI cost €60,000 as a yearling (horses which have reached their first birthday) at the Arqana (Deauville) sales. She was bred near Deauville, Normandy, at the Head family's Haras du Quesnay, whose previous success in the Prix de Diane Longines dates back to 2013. That was the year that the formidable TRÊVE began her epic journey which was marked by two consecutive victories in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the world championship of thoroughbred racing, and NATSUKASHI holds an entry for the latter race on 3 October! Both TRÊVE and NATSUKASHI are daughters of Motivator, and the latter is one of the stallions (a male horse used for breeding purposes) in residence at the Haras du Quesnay.
Download the Media Guide of the Prix de Diane Longines HERE