4 July 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
It is sometimes with years of hindsight that we can judge the quality of a great event. The price of Diane Longines (Gr1), the 3-year-old fillies championship disputed on the 2,100 meters of Chantilly, is often the yardstick that tells a great generation from an average one, and if a calendar turned upside down by sanitary restrictions has disrupted the usual selection process, we nonetheless noted that here and there had hatched particularly promising talents. Sunday at Chantilly, it is time to get the final bouquet!
- 1. MISS EXTRA (f3, FRA by Masterstroke ex Kestria, by Keltos) Rating: 105lbs
She ran four times last year and finished in the first four almost every time, without winning though, over distances from 6.5 to 8 furlongs, finishing well. She was moved to another yard after that and won easily for her comeback in a handicap and confirmed next time out, once again by storming home in the end over one mile. And again in the Prix de Sandringham (Gr3). Her style left her connections thinking that she would stay the extra distance of the Prix de Diane Longines. She was, therefore, supplemented here.
- 2. VADSENA (f3, FRA by Makfi ex Vaderana, by Monsun) Rating : 103lbs
Easy winner of her first two races, at 2 and then at 3 at Salon-de-Provence, she then finished second on 9 furlongs in the Prix Finlande (L) won by Wangari and tries to jump all the way up from there, like her stablemate Valyra in 2012, also trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for the Aga Khan.
- 3. EBAIYRA (f3, USA by Distorted Humor ex Ebiyza, by Rock of Gibraltar) Rating: 103lbs
Second for her debut last season in September over one mile, she was again 2nd over 10 furlongs but finally won, very easily, over 1m4f in the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3). She is shortened again here.
- 4. RAABIYAH (f3, USA by Sea the Stars ex Garmoosha, by Kingmambo) Rating: 106lbs
Homebred by Shadwell stud, who pulled away their Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner Tawkeel to give her a better shot here, she started her career last Winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer with an easy win and was quite impressive 4 months later in the Prix de la Seine (L) over 11 furlongs.
- 5. MAGEVA (f3, GB by Wootton Bassett ex Melilot, by Elusive City) Rating: 105lbs
Sold €75,000 at the Arqana yearlings sales in Deauville, she won for her debut in July at Deauville, leading all the way but leaning towards the left, which reduced her winning margin to a short head. 3rd after that, she finished the season with a 5th place in the Prix Miesque (Gr3). 2nd to Arapaho for her come back, she ran on strongly in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1), finishing 3rd very close.
- 6. MAGIC ATTITUDE (f3, GB by Galileo ex Margot Did, by Exceed and Excel) Rating: 105lbs
She draw her first campaign to a claose with a 3rd place in the Critérium de Lyon (L) but made a smashing comeback upon her return in the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) and was 2nd in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), 5 lengths behind Tawkeel.
- 7. FANCY BLUE (f3, IRE by Deep Impact ex Chenchikova, by Sadler’s Wells) Rating: 107lbs
Winner for her debut at 2, she also won a Listed race after that and made a convincing comeback in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Gr1) behind Peaceful. On that day, she took her time to find momentum but finished faster than most the other runners.
- 8. PEACEFUL (f3, IRE by Galileo ex Missvinski, by Stravinsky) Rating: 111lbs
Winner of her 2nd race at 2 in Ireland, where she’s trained, she finished her first season with a Listed 2nd-place at Newmarket. For her comeback, she won the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Gr1) , beating Fancy Blue by 2 lengths.
- 9. ALPINE STAR (f3, IRE by Sea the Moon ex Alpha Lupi, by Rahy) Rating: 119lbs
Bred by the Niarchos family, trained in Ireland, she won her last three races including a Group 2 at the Curragh over 7 furlongs at 2 and the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot, possibly one of the very best 3yo fillies’ races over the mile in Europe.
- 10. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (f3, FRA by Wootton Bassett ex Moranda, by Indian Rocket) Rating: 109lbs
Sold by Haras d’Étreham to her trainer Fabrice Chappet for €62,000 at the Deauville yearlings’ sale, she won for her debut over a very soft turf and one mile, in October at Deauville.
For her comeback this season, on May 11 at ParisLongchamp over one mile, she was long held up and ran on strongly, and just failed in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French, One Thousand Guineas, Gr1) after another unlucky run.
- 11. SOLSTICIA (f3, IRE by Le Havre ex Solilea, by Galileo) Rating: 105lbs
Bred by the Wertheimers, from the family of Plumatic and Starmaniac, she was 4th for her debut in September at ParisLongchamp in a maiden that hasn’t so far given much. She, however, won for her return this year at Chantilly, leaving her closest rival at three lengths.
A non-runner in the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) because of a soft ground, she finished a good 3rd in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), very close to Magic Attitude.