16 June 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
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, followed by Tamfana and Birthe (Study of Man), the winner of the St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1). With the winner being Frenchbred, the owner's prize for first place is 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.
What they said
Tony Piccone: the rider of Sparkling Plenty (1st)
“The priority was to keep her very relaxed because she could race freely, and this to only worry about the final 2 furlongs. It worked out as planned! This is my first victory in the Prix de Diane Longines. We strive hard to win these races, which are the stuff of legend, such as this one, and it's what we dream about... I'm struggling for words! My thoughts are with Cristian Demuro, who should have been riding the filly but who was injured last week. I experienced this same downside of the game when Fast Tracker, who I should have ridden in the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club, changed owners, which meant a different rider riding the colt in the classic... It just goes to show that. despite the moments of doubt, you have to keep moving forward!”
Patrice Cottier: the trainer of Sparkling Plenty (1rst), Calas (Bouches-du-Rhône)
“We said to ourselves that if she performed well in the Prix de Sandringham and recovered well from her exertions, we would head to the Prix de Diane Longines. There was a little bit of doubt about her ability to stay the trip, but her rider, Tony Piccone, rode her to perfection. If anyone had told me I would one day win this race, I would never have believed it !”
Jean-Pierre Dubois: the owner-breeder of Sparkling Plenty (1st)
“I'd like to thank the whole team who made this victory possible, and I'd like to spare a thought for Cristian Demuro. It was hard to watch the race from the stands. It's a great moment. The filly’s is due to be sold at the Goffs London Sale on Monday, but we're going to mull matters over tonight with a view to keeping her or not...”
Nicolas Clément: the trainer of Survie (2nd), Chantilly (Oise region)
“We really believed she could do it, especially going to the final 100 metres. Survie acquitted herself very well. She travelled towards the outside of the pack and took a few knocks for her pains, but she’s a very cold filly and not an easy ride. Stéphane Pasquier (her rider) gave her a good ride. The winner came with her run on the outside. Survie is constantly improving and shows that she's as tough as nails! As if proof was needed, there was only a head in it at the finish. We can re-run the race ten times over and still have regrets. But I'm satisfied with second place. We got it right, and that's very satisfying. Well done to the whole team, and thank you to Mr Augustin-Normand (Survie's owner-breeder) for placing his trust in us and his manager, John Hammond. This is the first time I've come second in the Prix de Diane Longines, but I would have liked to have won all the same. I've still got a few years to go [in terms of training horses], but we've come very close [to victory].”
David Menuisier: the trainer of Tamfana (3rd) (Great Britain)
“There was some doubt about this distance. And I wonder whether she actually stayed the 2,100 metres trip. In any case, we got beaten by some very good fillies.”
Christophe Ferland: the trainer of Aventure (4th), Chantilly (Oise region)
“She ran very, very well. I feel that there was a lot more pace in her last race, which helped her harness her turn of foot. They didn't go a strong gallop today, and we saw some top fillies [fight out the finish]. It gave rise to a blanket finish, and we're proud of her performance. She should be seen out again, at a point to be determined, but this time over 1m1/2: a trip which seems to bring out the best in her. The last fortnight has gone very well [in terms of preparation]. She's been exceptional and has done everything we've asked of her.”
Gavin Hernon: the trainer of Dare To Dream (5th), Chantilly (Oise region)
“She found herself short of room inside because of her draw. She didn't have a smooth trip, but once in the clear, she finished with gusto. She was gaining ground on the first four right to the end. She ran very well and showed that she's up to this level. That's what we wanted to see. We could either go for the Irish Oaks (Group 1) or consider supplementing her for the Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1). I'm delighted with her performance. She's a Group 1 (the pinnacle of excellence) filly and has demonstrated that she’s up to this level. If we'd had been drawn towards the outside, we would probably have been battling it out for a top-four finish. That's what Alexis Pouchin, her rider, thinks too.”