After combing through the list of runners for Sunday’s Prix de Diane at Chantilly, one thing is clear: the task is a tough one for locally-trained fillies who take on a formidable raiding party from Ireland and Britain. Ironically, the clear favourite is a filly bred in France at Haras des Monceaux.
Out of Dansili mare, Prudenzia, who has also produced the likes of Chicquita, Magic Wand and Philomène, Diamond Necklace is by French-bred, but Coolmore-based, St Mark’s Basilica, and is trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien.
Impressive winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac last autumn following a pair of wins at home, she was subsequently put away for the winter. Making her seasonal re-entry at ParisLongchamp in early-May, she made short work of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Bred to run beyond a mile, Diamond Necklace should appreciate Sunday’s conditions and justifiably heads the market.
Other notable visitor is Evolutionist, a Night Of Thunder filly from Karl Burke’s yard. Third in the Fillies’ Mile at the end of her juvenile campaign, she made a winning return in the Gr.3 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp in April prior to running second in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. She is bred to stay and could unlock further progress on her first attempt over 2100m.
Earlier in the week, William Haggas confirmed that he was not sending Lilt to Chantilly merely to make up the numbers. Authoritative winner of a York Listed on her seasonal comeback, the James Wigan-owned filly takes quite the leap in class but must be taken seriously nevertheless.
Inis Minor arrives on the back of an impressive Listed victory at Goodwood, in a race in which she was not helped by the lack of pace. Although well-beaten in the 1,000 Guineas, she has always been held in high regard by her French trainer David Menuisier. The Sussex-based handler saddled Tamfana in the 2024 renewal, in which she ran an excellent third under Oisin Murphy.
Other overseas fillies include Esna, Moments Of Joy and Felicitas.
Among the French-trained contenders, Green Spirit undoubtedly holds the strongest chance. Beaten a length by Diamond Necklace in last autumn’s Marcel Boussac, the Wertheimer brothers’ filly produced an eye-catching late run to finish third in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, recording the fastest final 600m of the race. Her trainer, Christopher Head, after what he himself described as a very quiet start to the season, appears to have his string back in form. While reversing form with the Coolmore filly may prove difficult, another high-class performance can reasonably be expected.
Evita is a lightly-raced filly that has always been highly regarded by Yann and Carlos Lerner. She will need to take a big step forward to feature but remains unexposed and could spring a nice surprise.
Trained in the Provinces by Jean-Claude Rouget and Patrice Cottier respectively, Habibi and Pink Panthera are the other two French-trained hopes.
