Diane Longines History: The French Oaks

June, Chantilly

Prix de Diane LONGINES

Group 1, 3-year-old Fillies, 2,100m/1 mile 2 ½ furlongs, €1,000,000

Created in 1843

Last winner: Sparkling Plenty (f3, FRA by Kingman ex Speralita, by Frankel), owned by Jean-Pierre Dubois, bred by Jean-Pierre Dubois, trained by Patrice Cottier, ridden by Tony Piccone.

Record-time: 2'3"7, Trève (2013)

The Prix de Diane Longines will be run in 2025 for the 176th time. 

The 2024 edition

Sunday, June 16, 2024, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). – In a highly competitive race, Sparkling Plenty (Kingman) won the 175th edition of the €1m Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1, 3yo Fillies, 2,100m), just two weeks after her victory in the Prix de Sandringham (Gr3) over one mile on this same course. Homebred by trotting hall of famer Jean-Pierre Dubois, the winner finished strongly from the back of the field, overtaking Survie (Churchill) and Tamfana (Soldier Hollow). Aventure (Sea the Stars) faded in the home straight to finish fourth ahead of Dare to Dream (Camelot).

The race was initially led by Halfday (Lope de Vega), who set a moderate pace for the fourteen fillies. Tamfana and Birthe (Study of Man), the St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner, followed. Since the winner was Frenchbred, the owner's prize for first place was increased to €759,962.

Sparkling Plenty is out of Speralita (Frankel), an unraced sister to the champion Stacelita (Monsun), making her Speralita's third foal, all by Frankel. She is thus a sister to the highly regarded Noble Truth, second in the 2021 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) for Godolphin, and winner of the Jersey Stakes (Gr3). Sparkling Plenty was bought back for €600,000 at the August 2022 Deauville sales, where her older brother had been sold for €1.1 million two years earlier. He was later sold for £130,000 at Tattersalls in training to David O’Meara last summer.

The Prix de Diane winner is also listed for the Goffs London Sale on Monday, June 17.

History

The first Prix de Diane was run at Chantilly on Thursday, 18 May 1843, over 1 mile 2 ½ furlongs. This race for 3-year-old fillies was created by the Société d'Encouragement pour l'amélioration des races de chevaux in France as a French equivalent to the Oaks Stakes, which had been run at Epsom, in England, since 1779. The English race, however, was 300 metres (1 1/2 furlong) longer.

The Prix de Diane wasn’t run in 1871, from 1915 to 1918, in 1940 and 1975. It was run in Versailles in 1848, at Longchamp in 1919, 1920, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, and 1947, and at Tremblay in 1943 and 1944 over 1 mile 2 ¾ furlongs. The race was postponed six times because of war. In 1975, when Ivanjica was the favourite, it was also postponed because the stable lads went on strike on the race's day. In 2020, it was staged on the same card as the Prix du Jockey Club on July 5th because of the delay imposed on the French program by the coronavirus pandemic.

The first running brought together six horses and was won by the favourite, Nativa, owned by Prince Marc de Beauveau, trained by Henry Jennings and ridden by his brother Tom. His victory was facilitated, however, when Mam'zelle Amanda’s jockey lost a stirrup when he seemed all set to pip the favourite to the post.

This first Prix de Diane was hardly a big event. La Presse reported that only three ladies watched the race from the stands: "Mesdames de Vatry, de Thorigny and a new bride". In fact, the death of the Duke of Orléans (son of King Louis-Philippe) in July 1842 meant that the royal family weren’t present at Chantilly. The royal entourage generally came to watch the races at Chantilly within sight of the chateau windows. As the quality of participating fillies increased, the Prix de Diane became known as the “Derby for Fillies".

Generally speaking, the Prix de Diane attracts a large field. Twenty fillies have gone to post on twenty-five occasions. The record number, 27, went to post in 1946 when Pirette triumphed. Twenty-five have gone to post on 4 occasions (1926, 1927, 1959, 1973).

Between 1843 and 1851, the post-race report doesn’t mention by what distance the winning filly won. Thereafter, for a number of years, winning post judges noted the victory not by lengths but with the words: "long" for Etoile du Nord (1858), "easy" for Géologie (1859) and "very easy" for La Toucques (1863) and Deliane (1865). We can, therefore, assume that these fillies won the Prix de Diane at a canter! After them, Two fillies have triumphed by 5 lengths: Dorina in 1926 and Northern Trick in 1984 and 11 by 4 lengths: Jouvence (1853), Fille de l'Air (1864), Tyrolienne (1875), Liane (1896), Moïa (1913), Quenouille (1919), Lysistrata (1939), Apollonia (1956), Madam Gay (1981), Indian Skimmer (1987), Treve (2013).

The race has finished in a dead heat twice. Both times, the owners decided to re-run the distance to decide on a winner. The two winning fillies on these occasions were Destinée in 1874 and Tyrolienne in 1875. Three horses won by the shortest distance - a nose – Pistol Packer, who pipped Cambrizzia in 1971, Dunette just ahead of Three Troikas in 1979 and Shemaka just in front of Baya in 1993. Short head victories were registered by Qu'elle Est Belle II over Porte Maillot in 1912, Perruche Bleue over stable companion Ligne de Fond in 1932, La Sorellina over Banassa in 1953, Mrs Penny over Aryenne in 1980, Lypharita over Fitnah in 1985 and Zainta over Abbatiale in 1998.

The interval between the running of the Prix de Diane and the Oaks has varied over the years. When the two races were run with a two-week gap between them, it became possible for a filly to run in both races: Fille de l'Air, owned by Frédéric de Lagrange, triumphed at Chantilly and Epsom in 1864, and Pawneese, owned by Daniel Wildenstein, won on 4 June 1976 at Epsom and on 13 June at Chantilly.

Sponsorship

The Prix de Diane was sponsored from 1977 to 1982 by Revlon. Then, from 1983 to 2007, the reins were taken over by Hermès, who created a village on part of the lawn in front of the stands to accommodate the numerous guests who responded to Hermès’ invitation to "Let elegance reign!". After three years without a sponsor in 2011, the Prix de Diane found a new patron in Longines, who manufactures luxury watches and high-precision timekeeping equipment. This 2025 edition will be the 15th Longines support.

Visitors

13 foreign-trained winners to date.

Like the Prix du Jockey Club, the Prix de Diane was, until 1946, reserved for fillies born and bred in France. When this restriction was lifted, the horses from abroad did not make the trip to Chantilly immediately, and it was not until 1970 that one of these overseas visitors was victorious. The filly in question was Ireland’s Sweet Mimosa, owned by her trainer Seamus McGrath, who finished just ahead of England’s Highest Hopes. Since then, the victorious visitors have included Highclere (1974), owned by Queen Elizabeth II of England, Mrs Penny (1980), Madam Gay (1981), Indian Skimmer (1987), Rafha (1990) and Sil Sila (1996), all of whom came from the United Kingdom. Since 2000, the overseas raiders had to content themselves with places, including second for Time Ahead in 2003, fourth for Ireland’s Alexander Goldrun in 2004, third for the German Paita in 2005 and finally a winner in the shape of Confidential Lady in 2006, followed by Star of Seville in 2015, Laurens in 2018, Fancy Blue, a winner for Ireland, 50 years have Sweet Mimosa, followed in 2021 by Joan of Arc, trained by Aidan O'Brien, while the previous winner was handled by his son Donnacha O'Brien! 

In 2022, Nashwa won for Britain, as she was trained by John & Thady Gosden in Newmarket.

Sires

Sires of at least three winners of the Prix de Diane :

• Belfonds (4 winners), sire of Commanderie (1930), Vendange (1933), Péniche (1935), Lysistrata (1939).
• Gladiator (3 winners), sire of Honesty (1854), Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Surprise (1860).
• The Baron (3 winners), sire of Dame d’Honneur (1856), Etoile du Nord (1858), La Toucques (1863).
• Ruy Blas (3 winners), sire of Destinée (1874), Nubienne (1879), Serpolette II (1881).
• Galileo (2 winners): Golden Lilac (2011), Joan of Arc (2021).

Broodmares

Prix de Diane winners who foaled another winner:

• Surprise (1860), dam of Sornette (1870).
• Deliane (1865), dam of La Jonchère (1877).
• Brie (1878), dam of Brisk (1894).
• Kasbah (1895), dam of Kizil Kourgan (1902).
• Uganda (1924), dam of Ukrania (1929).
• Fairy Legend (1927) mère de Féerie (1938).

Dams of multiple Prix de Diane winners:

• Naïad, dam of Nativa (1843) & Dorade (1846).
• Elvira, dam of Lanterne (1844) & Suavita (1845).
• Annetta, dam of Bounty (1852) & Dame d’Honneur (1856).
• Congressiste, dam of Fairy Legend (1927) & Mary Legend (1928).

Owners

• Aga Khan (7 wins): Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999), Zarkava (2008), Sarafina (2010), Valyra (2012). 
• Auguste Lupin (6 wins): Suavita (1845), Jouvence (1853), Deliane (1865), Jeune Première (1867), La Jonchère (1877), Presta (1886).
• Marc de Beauvau (5 wins): Nativa (1843), Lanterne (1844), Dorade (1846), Sérénade (1848), Fleur de Marie (1850).
• Frédéric de Lagrange (5 wins): Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Etoile du Nord (1858), Finlande (1861), Fille de l’Air (1864), Jenny (1868).
• Edmond Blanc (5 wins): Nubienne (1879), Profane (1904), Médéah (1908), Union (1909), Marsa (1910).
• Edouard de Rothschild (5 wins): Quenouille (1919), Flowershop (1920), Perruche Bleue (1932), Vendange (1933), Péniche (1935).
• Marcel Boussac (5 wins): Adargatis (1934), Caravelle (1943), Corteira (1948), Apollonia (1956), Crepellana (1969).
• Henri Delamarre (4 wins): Victorieuse (1866), Campêche (1873), Verte Bonne (1883), Kasbah (1895).
• Wildenstein family (5 wins): Allez France (1973), Pawneese (1976), Madelia (1977), Aquarelliste (2001) for Daniel, Bright Sky (2002) for Écurie Wildenstein.
• Niarchos (4 wins): Northern Trick (1984), East of the Moon (1994), Divine Proportions (2005), Senga (2017). 


Trainers

• Henry Jennings (9 wins): Nativa (1843), Lanterne (1844), Dorade (1846), Sérénade (1848), Fleur de Marie (1850), Géologie (1859), Surprise (1860), Destinée (1874), Tyrolienne (1875).
• Tom Jennings (7 wins): Hervine (1851), Dame d’Honneur (1856), Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Etoile du Nord (1858), Finlande (1861), Fille de l’Air (1864), Jenny (1868).
• Alain de Royer Dupré (6 wins): Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999), Zarkava (2008), Sarafina (2010).
• Thomas-Richard Carter (4 wins): Victorieuse (1866), Campêche (1873), Verte Bonne (1883), Kasbah (1895).
• George Cunnington (4 wins): Barberine (1885), Bavarde (1887), Primrose (1891), Liane (1896).
• Robert Denman (4 wins): Profane (1904), Médéah (1908), Union (1909), Marsa (1910).
• Frank Carter (4 wins): Uganda (1924), Dorina (1926), Pearl Cap (1931), Mistress Ford (1936).
• Lucien Robert (4 wins): Ukrania (1929), Perruche Bleue (1932), Vendange (1933), Péniche (1935).
• Geoffroy Watson (4 wins): Cerisoles (1957), Timandra (1960), Hermières (1961), Rescousse (1972).
• François Boutin (4 wins): Northern Trick (1984), Lacovia (1986), Resless Kara (1988), East of the Moon (1994).
• André Fabre (4 wins): Lypharita (1985), Jolypha (1992), Nebraska Tornado (2003), Golden Lilac (2011).
• Jean-Claude Rouget (4 wins): Stacelita (2009), Valyra (2012), Avenir Certain (2014), La Cressonnière (2016). 

Two women saddled Prix de Diane winners:

• Christiane Head : Harbour (1982), Egyptband (2000) et Trêve (2013) ;
• Corine Barande-Barbe : Carling (1995).

Riders

• Spreoty (5 wins): Sérénade (1848), Hervine (1851), Dame d’Honneur (1858), Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Etoile du Nord (1858) ; à Charles Pratt : Géologie (1859), Finlande (1861), Stradella (1862), Fille de l’Air (1864), Sornette (1870).
• Yves Saint-Martin (5 wins): La Sega (1962), Rescousse (1972), Allez France (1973), Pawneese (1976), Madelia (1977) ; et à Gérald Mossé : Resless Kara (1988), Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999).
• George Stern (4 wins): Profane (1904), Médéah (1908), Union (1909), Marsa (1910).
• Freddy Head (4 wins): Pistol Packer (1971), Reine de Saba (1978), Harbour (1982), Lacovia  (1986).
• Gérald Mossé (4 wins): Resless Kara (1988), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999).
• Hollie Doyle became the first lady-rider to win the race, in 2022 with Nashwa.

A French rider won the 2nd edition of the race, Hardy Junior with Lanterne. A second one, Zacharie Caillotin, won ten years later with Honesty (1854), but there was a 60-year spell before a third Gallic jockey passed the post in first, Maurice Barat, riding Alerte VI in 1914.