This year’s Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly looks to be an exciting renewal with top French fillies Blue Rose Cen, Pensee Du Jour and Jannah Rose opposing for the first time. There is a strong contingent from the UK and Ireland, headed by Listed winner Running Lion and Aidan O’Brien’s Never Ending Story.
Blue Rose Cen will be aiming for a fifth straight victory and steps up in trip for the first time following a comfortable success in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) where she had the re-opposing Lindy back in second. Her dam was a Grade 3 winner over 1m3f in the US, so stamina is not expected to pose a problem.
Pensee Du Jour also comes into the race with a lofty reputation, having won all three career starts. Her success in the 1m2 ½ f Group 3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud, a traditional trial for the Diane, marked her as a top middle-distance filly. She relished the trip and quickened clear in the final two furlongs to win by two-and-a-half lengths.
Jannah Rose offers a similar profile after winning the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary over 1m2f, run on French Guineas day, five weeks ago. She is yet to be beaten in three runs and seems to be improving with each step up in trip. The Frankel filly will definitely stay, she appears to be uncomplicated to ride and may prove to be the value bet in the race.
Running Lion heads the international runners. John and Thady Gosden's daughter of Roaring Lion was withdrawn at the start of the Epsom Oaks after getting upset in the stalls but may appreciate the shorter distance of the Prix de Diane. She was an impressive winner of the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes over 1m2f at Newmarket in early May and has gone from strength to strength since her debut defeat as a juvenile.
Karl Burke's Novakai has not won since her first start at Doncaster in July last year but her second behind Soul Sister in the Group 2 Musidora Stakes at York has now boosted the filly's profile with the winner completing the Musidora/Epsom Oaks double in emphatic style. Aidan O'Brien's Never Ending Story has swerved the UK and Irish Classics in favour of the Prix de Diane and finished fifth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Her dam was a Grade 1 winner over 1m2f and the additional distance could spark improvement.
WIN: BLUE ROSE CEN
DARK HORSE: JANNAH ROSE
