5 June 2020
Photo Solsticia scoopdyga.com
Traditionally regarded as an important preparatory race for the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1), the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) takes place this year at Lyon-Parilly about a month before the Prix de Diane, as usual, but later in the season.
It has not been recently won by the French Oaks favourite, let alone the winner. The last double dates from 1976 with the two successes of Pawneese… However, there are some good winners in the recent history of the race. For instance, the 2008 Cleopatre third Antiquities is the dam of French 2,000 Guineas winner Victor Ludorum.
There are six runners this year, like last year, long before the health crisis turned the calendar upside down.
- 1. CAMOGIE (f3, IRE by Invincible Spirit and Game Zone, by Hurricane Run) Rating: -
Sold for € 220,000 at the Arqana yearling sales, she just started off with an easy victory in a beginners' race at Saint-Cloud, winning by four lengths after travelling near the leaders.
- 2. WORLD PEACE (f3, GER by Camelot and Wolkenburg, by Big Shuffle) Rating: -
Purchased € 90,000 yearling at the Baden-Baden sales, Out of a German One Thousand Guineas (Gr2) second, she has just started in Angers by winning by a head, closing in.
- 3. NEIGE BLANCHE (f3, FRA by Anodin and Bianca Neve, by Muhtathir) Rating: 87lbs
Winner of two races last year at Marseilles-Vivaux over the all-weather, she finished fourth one length behind Loquito, a Prix Greffulhe contender this Saturday, and took third place in the Prix Caravelle-Haras des Granges (L) in Toulouse, just in front of Scripturale, whom she finds at the start again.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1).
- 4. SCRIPTURALE (f3, FRA by Makfi and Skysweeper, by Hurricane Run) Rating: 96lbs
Purchased € 45,000 at the Osarus yearling sales, she proved to be a consistent 2-year-old filly since she always finished in the top three, notably when third in the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3) at the end of the year in Deauville. She was fifth lately in the Prix Caravelle-Haras des Granges (L) in Toulouse, finishing nicely on a softer course.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1).
- 5. SOLSTICIA (f3, IRE by Le Havre and Solilea, by Galileo) Rating: -
Bred by her owners from the Plumatic and Starmaniac family, she finished fourth for her debut last September at ParisLongchamp, in a maiden race whose first three have not won since. She, on the other hand, won for her return at Chantilly, leaving her closest opponent three lengths away.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1).
- 6. FLIGHTY LADY (f3, IRE by Sir Percy and Airfield, by Dansili) Rating: 108lbs
Purchased for £ 21,000 at the Newmarket yearling sales, she started with a third place at ParisLongchamp, then won a month later, in August, at Deauville before taking third place in the Prix d'Aumale (Gr3), within one length of the winner. She got the same place to close her first season in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1), finishing well. She has changed owners and trainers since then and did well for her return in third in the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3).
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1).