13 June 2024
Where the big occasion meets elegance
The Prix de Diane Longines, on the verge of celebrating its 175th birthday on Sunday 16 June, is the most glamorous event of its kind staged at Chantilly racecourse. As racegoers variously mark the occasion by wearing their best hats, in addition to embracing the fun loving nature of the day, which takes the form of refined picnics and dancing, but they also come to witness a great moment of sport, as this Group 1 race - the pinnacle of excellence in horse racing – seeks to crown the best 3-year-old filly in France, or in Europe for that matter.
The winner of the race can look forward to a golden future as a broodmare while also also entertaining legitimate ambitions in the top autumn prizes, and namely by laying down a marker for the legendary showdown that is the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on the 6th of October.
Although around 25,000 English thoroughbreds are born each year in Europe, only one filly will have have the honour of claiming classic glory in the Prix de Diane Longines. So clearly the challenge [of achieving this] is what many owners and breeders dream about!
The Chantilly training centre responds to the power of 11!
Fourteen fillies will come under orders in the 175th edition of the Prix de Diane Longines, and the majority of these are French. Twelve of them are trained in France, with 11 of these hailing from Chantilly. This training centre, run by France Galop, is the biggest of its kind in Europe as around 2500 thoroughbreds are based at the 2,000-hectare site.
Although Sparkling Plenty, part of the French contingent, is the exception as she’s trained in the South-East of France at Calas-Cabriès, which is in the Bouches-du-Rhône region.
A new ‘generation’ of trainers comes to the fore
The profiles of the trainers with a runner in the Prix de Diane Longines are characterised, first and foremost, by the fact that they are still relatively young (the majority of them are still in their thirties and forties), as they operate in a profession that often tends to reward those with considerable experience.
The other feature is the international diversity of the trainers in question: Laura Vanska is Finnish; Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti are Italian; Gavin Hernon and Tim Donworth are Irish; whereas David Menuisier is French although he trains in Britain; whereas Francis-Henri Graffard began his training apprenticeship by subscribing to the Godolphin Flying Start Programme (as did Laura Vanska and Tim Donworth), which is a very high-level course, and which requires its students to work for top professionals, in other parts of a the world, over a two-year period.
An overview of the ground – good to soft ground on the horizon
Marin Le Cour Grandmaison, oversees the running of the Chantilly training centre and its racecourse, and he said: « The penetrometer scale measured 3.4 on Thursday morning. We’ve had 5,7 mm of rainfall since Monday, which has taken the form of thunderstorms and showers. The night-time temperatures are cold for this time of year at Chantilly (from 4 to 6 degrees celcius). Given these conditions, the soil remains cool and retains moisture. We watered the course (4mm) on Tuesday – and put up to 6mm of water in some areas –which follows on from the rain that had already fallen prior to that, so as to ensure that the cushion in the ground is spread evenly throughout the whole course. Depending on future rainfall patterns, which remain very difficult to gauge owing to the highly uncertain and changeable nature of the weather, further watering of course could take place on Friday evening in the event of insufficient rainfall materialising. The aim is to ensure GOOD to SOFT/GOOD ground. »
PROFILES
CHANTILLY
GALA REAL : The Prix de Diane Longines is the new goal of the Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti
Following on from the example of Antoine Griezmann whose filly Natsukashi contested the 2021 edition, another major figure from the world of football will have a runner in the coveted Prix de Diane Longines. For this read the Italian football manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose racing stable rejoices in the name of Scuderia Dei Duepi (set up in partnership with fitness coach Giovanni Mauri).
Carlo Ancelotti, whose previous managerial spells included a period spent at Paris Saint-Germain, is very much synonymous with Real Madrid, having guided the Spanish giants to success in both La Liga (the Spanish Championship) and the Champions League this season (a competition he has won three times with Real Madrid and five times overall as a manager).
As a tribute to the Madrid club, the filly (which he co-owns with the Ballylinch Stud and the Écurie des Charmes) has been christened 'Gala Real'. Her victory in the Listed Prix de la Seine, a Prix de Diane Longines prep, has established Gala Real as a leading fancy for Sunday's classic.
CHANTILLY - Botti: the co-trainer of GALA REAL
Quote sourced from the France Galop Press Conference
« She did a light piece of work on Monday morning so as to ensure that she’s not too fresh come Sunday. Everything went well. She has come out of it in good order. Gala Real is very well behaved and has an impeccable mindset. Christophe Soumillon, who rides her on Sunday, was pleased.
It's almost certain that a sound surface won’t bother her. Although we know that she acts on soft ground. Although we have to be realistic, as for genuine soft ground to materialise, we would need rain to fall at the time of race gets underway. I've lived in Chantilly for 15 years... and I know the course well. In any case, if the ground rates good, I hope that she will be just as effective on it as on soft ground. Because, if she does, it will open up a lot of opportunities for us further down the line. Fillies get only one opportunity to tackle the ‘Diane in their lifetime. I hope that the ground will not be on the fast side. I'm convinced that Gala Real has stamina. There's no doubt that we're going to get a ‘properly run race’, and not a tactical one, with the presence of British and Irish fillies. In any case, she’s the best horse that I've had in my yard. I’m hoping for a race run at a proper gallop, but Christophe Soumillon has carte blanche [in to way she is ridden] as he knows her better than me. I have confidence in him, and he has done a lot of work with the filly in the morning »
CHANTILLY - Gavin Hernon: an Irishman in love with Chantilly
Gavin Hernon can be described as to the racing manor born. As he’s the son of Irish national, Joe Hernon, the manager of Castlehyde Stud (Ireland), which is home to some of the stallions of the racing superpower that is Coolmore.
Ever since he was a teenager, the young Gavin Hernon aspired to just one goal: becoming a racehorse trainer. While studying at university in Ireland, he initially learned the ropes with trainer Jim Bolger, before having spells as assistant to the Chantilly handlers, André Fabre and Nicolas Clément. It was during this time that he fell in love with the Oise region training centre where he has remained ever since.
After setting up as a trainer on his own right in 2018, Gavin Hernon enjoyed immediate success, as he saddled his very first winner with his very first runner. He will be pinning his hopes on Dare to Dream, who carries the colours of Hong Kong owner Dun Shing Lee. He’s also angling for his first Group 1 success as a trainer.
Quote from Gavin Hernon - sourced from the France Galop Press Conference
« We've been thinking about the Prix de Diane Longines for Dare to Dream for a long time. It's been on my mind for a while. I still have the messages on my mobile phone... In these messages, I conveyed to my family, back in May of last year, that I had come across my first classic prospect, and we've done it! I'm not sure she's a filly specifically made for this type of ground. Obviously, she acts on this type of ground, which isn't the case with everyone. However, good to soft ground would be perfect. I just don't want the ground to ride fast. She worked well at Chantilly racecourse last week. Relative to Tuesday morning, [June 11] she had a good blow out at [La Piste] des Réservoirs (training gallop). We'll be easing up on her preparations in the next few days [Tuesday June 11 onwards] so that she's fresh for Sunday. »
CHANTILLY
Laura Vanska: the Finnish trainer based at Chantilly
Trainer Laura Vanska, based at Chantilly for a number of years now, has made her grand entrance in the horse racing scene. Born in Finland, a country where there is no flat racing, the young woman spent a considerable period in the world of show jumping before embracing the world of English thoroughbreds. She arrived in France, with the assistance of Amélie and Robert Ehrnrooth – two Finns who breed English thoroughbreds in Normandy at the Haras de Bougeauville. And it was there that she forged a special bond with one of the fillies at the stud, Sarah Lynx, who was resting in Normandy on account of having proved too temperamental at Chantilly, where she was trained by John Hammond. Laura Vanska recalls: « For me, that wasn't a good reason to rest her! As, on the contrary, we had to turn it into a learning curve for her. So I offered to ride her at the stud, where I went about exercising her in a paddock area where cows were grazing! When she returned to Chantilly, John Hammond was very happy and he invited me to continue riding her at his yard. Further down the line, she won some top races, including one in Canada, and we also travelled to Japan and Hong Kong with her... » Laura Vanska completed her studies in Finland before returning to France with the aim of working in racing. After signing up to the Godolphin Flying Start course, she was assistant to several trainers - before taking the plunge and setting up as a trainer in her own right.
Laura Vanska had her first runners in 2021 - before deciding to transfer to Chantilly where she currently trains around ten horses. She will saddle her very first runner in the Prix de Diane Longines on Sunday when Birthe, a filly she acquired for a "mere" €12,000 privately, and which she rides out every morning, takes to the classic stage. The filly's name which derives its inspiration from a Danish ‘Christian’ name, alludes to the origins of her co-owner, Christine Guilbert. Birthe won her second career start as a 2-year-old, and she attracted a lot of interest from potential buyers. They included Alain Jathière, a racehorse owner whose colours the filly now carries, as he acquired a 50 per cent stake in the filly.
Birthe confirmed her quality this year. After making her reappearance at Chantilly, Birthe won a Listed race at Toulouse. She added: « We headed to Toulouse so to avoid the very testing ground prevalent in the Parisian region at the time. She had to make up a lot of ground on that occasion which isn’t easy at Toulouse. Yet she still won. So I knew that she was a very good [filly]! »
Birthe is coming off a win in the Group 2 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore - Prix Saint-Alary, which establishes her as a leading contender on Sunday.
Quote from Laura Vanska - sourced from the France Galop Press Conference
« Birthe did a serious piece of work last week. It went well. She has recovered well [from her exertions]. She had a pipe opener on Tuesday to ensure that she isn't too fresh come Sunday. Her rider Aurélien Lemaître was happy with the filly. A straight forward ride in the morning, the filly invariably does the minimum required.
In the St Mark's Basilica Coolmore - Prix Saint-Alary, she proved her ability to - also – act on soft ground. I'm not worried about that. She's changed a lot since the beginning of the year. As a 2-year-old, she didn't have the required strength to handle bad ground. She'll be my first runner in a Group 1 race. It's quite incredible to be pitching at this level in this race of such magnitude – given, too, that I only train ten horses... »
Great Britain - David Menuisier: the most French of ‘British’ trainers
David Menuisier was born in France but he has been training in Britain since 2014. More specifically, he’s based at Pulborough, in West Sussex - an area of the country from where the French coastline can be discerned in the far distance. This highly strategic position enables him to campaign his horses regularly in France, and to even win some of the top French prizes (he numbers two Gallic Group 1 wins - the top level in horse racing).
Hailing from the Lorraine region, the trainer will be represented in the forthcoming edition of the Prix de Diane Longines by Tamfana. The German-bred filly was a very creditable fourth in the 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) at Newmarket, which is the British equivalent of the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
Quote from David Menuisier - sourced from the France Galop Press Conference
« I’ve maintained that Tamfana is the best filly that I've ever trained, and sometimes I'm right! She’s exceptional. I've always held her in high regard, and have always thought that she would be even better once stepped up in trip. The 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was both an objective in itself, and a stepping stone to the Prix de Diane Longines. We went there to win but she really surprised me that day. I didn't expect her to show so much speed, and to be travelling with such ease over 1,600m, and at a track which rated as fast. It's always difficult for me to watch [a replay] of this race. There has been a lot of criticism directed at her jockey, Jamie Spencer, for the manner in which he rode the filly but which is unjustified. Despite her fourth place, there are a lot of positives to take away from the race.
As far as the ‘Diane is concerned, I think Tamfana will hold her own. She was born to race at Auteuil or Cheltenham rather than Chantilly! It's obviously too early to dra comparisons, and it's perhaps very presumptuous of me to maintain that she reminds me of a filly like Zarkava. In other words she’s capable of biding her time from off the pace, but also able to travel very easily during the race, before unleashing a lethal turn of foot. »
WHAT OTHER CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING
CHANTILLY
Christophe Ferland: the trainer of AVENTURE
Quote sourced from the France Galop Press Conference
« After the [Prix de] Royaumont, everyone asked me if she would heading to the Prix de Diane. It was difficult question to answer when put on the spot, even though we had this classic at the back of our minds before the race, and in the event that she were to win as if it were a routine exercise gallop. It also depended on how she recovered from the Royaumont. She has come out of the race in great shape and the filly hasn’t lose an ounce [of weight]. For me, the 2,100m trip won't be a worry. The over-riding consideration was how she recovered and, since then, she's been doing her normal daily work, in the form of some gentle canters on the all-weather, combined to a very short piece of work on grass to see if her action was still fluid, and there were no problems on that score. We discussed it and I had the final say in this decision.
If she could win, it would be incredible for her owner-breeders, and for this wonderful pedigree page. I'm delighted that Maxime Guyon will be in the saddle. We've worked together for several years, for the Wertheimer family, and for the benefit of other owners in the event of his availability. »
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Pierre-Yves Bureau, Racing manager of the Wertheimer et frère stable : the owners of AVENTURE and HALFDAY
« Aventure delivered a masterclass in the Prix de Royaumont. The only downside, if you are looking for one, is the fact that she's backing up fairly quickly [June 2], but the filly didn't seem to have had a very hard time of it. As far as Halfday is concerned, it was very much part of the game plan, which was to head straight to the Prix de Diane after winning the Prix de Cléopatre, but avoiding a detour via the Prix Saint-Alary, which would have been her only other option in the time frame leading up to the classic. She is a light-framed filly who needs time between her races. Very much a late developer, she will blossom over the trip in time. Maxime Guyon is expected to ride Aventure. »
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Nicolas Clément : the trainer of SURVIE
« The filly worked last week at Chantilly racecourse. It was important for her to get to know the course, the section of the course known as the passage de route, and to get to know the stabling area. She has be doing some work to keep her ticking over on Tuesday morning [June 11]. She has made good progress both physically and mentally from two to three. Stéphane Pasquier has been booked to ride her. She won't start favourite, but I think I can say that she's a good outsider, and we're delighted to be running the filly in the classic. »
CHANTILLY - Tim Donworth : the trainer of L’EQUILIBRISTE
« She was due to tackle the Prix Chloé but that option was further down the line, namely the 14th of July. So we reasoned that, conditional to her working well, that we would allow ourselves to be tempted by the Prix de Diane Longines. I think that she’s come on for her win at Longchamp in the Prix Finlande. Maxime Guyon, her rider on that occasion, thinks that the trip won't be a problem. It remains to be seen whether she will be as effective on a sound surface. In any case, she will be ridden in an unhurried manner, without any pressure, and we'll go from there. Her performance will also serve as pointer to the future. As we are toying with the idea of running her in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (in the US) at the beginning of August... »
CHANTILLY - Francis-Henri Graffard : the trainer of PARAIBA and CANDALA
Paraiba is doing well. We've always rated her but her preparation has been hindered somewhat by the weather at the beginning of the year as she's a top of the ground filly. Our hand was forced as regards the choice of her reappearance race because of the rain and the state of the ground, then I wanted to run her at Longchamp, and it was a case of déjà vu all over again... We’ve got the work into her and she's ready. She has the right to contest the Prix de Diane on the formbook. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Sunday... If the ground is soft, she won't run. Tom Marquand has been lined up for the ride. Candala, on the other hand, is indifferent to the state of the ground and she will run. We have rediscovered the filly [we know and love] and are very happy with her. Chris Hayes will ride her. »