The French Diana

The French Diana Grade I
Fillies and mares, 3 years old, A mile and five sixteenths on the Firm Turf Course, Purse : $500,000

Fine weather will greet the field and the many spectators making their way to Deauville for the running of this prestigious European staying races for 3yo fillies.

PP1 VIKING ROVER(ENG) (MEDICEAN (GB) x DEPUTY MINISTER x ALYDAR) kevoman3 10/1
A series of dominant wins, by 2 ¼, 2 ½ and then 5 ¼ lengths in allowance grade prompted a step up in class last time out in the Grade I Sydney Oaks, where she settled midfield and was left flat footed, fading for a 20 length failure. Her hat trick of wins preceding that ranged over distances from 9.5f to 11f and couldn’t have been more impressive in any of them, scoring with plenty in reserve on each occasion. Query remains over her ability to match it in this class after her last start fail, but if she can find the speed that saw her win those previous races, she could be a place chance.

PP2 IRON GALEANTHROPY(KY) (CURLIN x STORM CAT x NUREYEV) sgb 5/1
The third stakes winner produced from her dam, CAPTAIN CATNAP, who was a stakes winner herself, she went on a long winning streak before it ended last start at her first try at the top level. After three modest starts in dirt sprints to start her career, a stretch out to a mile saw her quickly break her maiden, and the wins continued to come at her next four attempts, with the last two on turf. After climbing through restricted allowance grades, she was entered into the Fat Free Car Turf Filly Route against only three other runners and proved far too good, winning with an SP of 95. Last time out she sat just off the speed and loomed up on the turn, but was overrun in the stretch. Very promising stayer, and the extra distance could be to her advantage.

PP3 MERCATO(ENG) (DUBAWI (IRE) x DANZIG x SECRETARIAT) correction 6/1
Talented scratch bred filly who has been a bit inconsistent in her form, mixing some big wins with some poor losses, mostly against top class fields. Last start, she trailed the field throughout, beating just one home in the Grade I The Saint Larry. Before that, she broke through for her first stakes win in the Devi’s Slide Turf Filly Challenge over 10f, with an SP of 101. Was well beaten, but still managed to make some ground three starts ago in the Grade III The Penelope Cruz, finishing 3rd, but over 9 lengths from the winner. Can’t be ruled out on the back of her win two starts ago, but must be at her best to match it here.

PP4 MAGIC MOON(KY) (MALIBU MOON x SADLER’S WELLS x GONE WEST) sheen 8/1
Lightly raced filly who is from a 9 time stakes winning mare, and has been improving with each start as she steps up in distance. Against a strong field last time out in a NW3L allowance over 10f, she sat just worse than midfield in a tightly grouped bunch, and sprinted clear at the top of the stretch to power away for a 2 ½ length win. Before that she went back to trail the field at the half way mark, but it was the same result with an easy 2 ½ length win. Has yet to be tested in a stakes class field, but an effortless win last start with an SP of 100 suggests she may have had plenty left in reserve. Looks a likely type, who will probably settle towards the back, and if she can handle the step up in grade, should be challenging in the finish.

PP5 A THOUSAND UP(ENG) (DUBAWI (IRE) x CAPE CROSS (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS) wispa2 2/1
The morning line favourite finally returned to the winners list last time out, after three successive 2nds, leading from gate to wire in the Grade III The Vanguard registering an SP 106. Before that she was a little slowly away and never looked comfortable after settling 5th early, before she mounted a challenge, and beat all but one home. Three starts ago she dropped back in distance to 7f and after looking the winner, was run down in the last stride in the Grade I Vermont Is 4 Lovers. Is likely to go forward here and if she can get her own way and dictate terms in front, she will be very hard to beat, with the only query being the step up from 9f to 10.5f.

PP6 DREAMER LEWIS(KY) (LEWIS MICHAEL x FANTASTICAT x MONTJEU (IRE)) paton2 7/1
Steep rise in distance will be a huge test for this filly, who has been battling away against some top class fields of late. Last time out she made some late ground on a wet track for an honest 4th placing in the Grade I The French 1000 Guineas with an SP 97. Before that, she was very quick away early, opening up a 4 length lead, but faded down the home stretch, beating just one runner home in an allowance. Three starts ago she was again facing a tough field in the Grade III Irish 1000 Guineas Trial over a mile, when she settle towards the back and made no impression. Finished off well last time in top company, and provided she sees out the trip, some further improvement could have her challenging for a place.

PP7 PRINCESS ORGANA(IRE) (SEA THE STARS (IRE) x STORM CAT x DANZIG) peep11 9/1
Very impressive debut win three starts ago over 9.5f in her maiden, when she settled right at the back before making a huge charge to score, running away. Next up she went straight into a stakes with a field of 4, where she settled much closer to the leader, and could not bridge the gap, finishing a gallant 2nd. At her third, and most recent start, she was entered into the Granny Deal Turf Filly Route, and after getting back, 11 lengths from the lead, she stormed home to hit the front half way down the stretch and win by a dominant 2 ¾ lengths. Inexperienced, but looks the goods, and should be finishing off strongly at the end of 10.5f.

PP8 JALABHAR XHO(KY) (DYNAFORMER x SADLER’S WELLS x DEPUTY MINISTER) icbomber6 9/2
Had not finished worse than 2nd place until her last start 5th in the Grade II The Diana Trail, in which she tracked the leader the whole way, but was unable to finish off, running an SP 94 over 11f. Before that, she again stalked the leader in the Sir American Turf Filly Route over 9f, and this time was able to push through late to edge in front for a 1 length win. Her dam, Khartoum XIV, was a graded stakes winner in a turf route. A repeat of her career best SP of 104 should see her go close to winning here, with the only question mark being whether she was can run the distance right out.

PP9 SCIENCE EXPERIMENT(JPN) (TANINO GIMLET (JPN) x REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x GONE WEST) gowans3 14/1
The roughie of the field will go from the outside stall, and after a debut maiden win over 6.5f, has been more than competitive over longer distances since then, having never missed the place in any of her 5 starts. After a run of three successive placings, she broke through for her second win last time out over 10f, in a NW2L allowance, where she cruised along in front of the field of 4, and held them at bay throughout to win by over 3 lengths with plenty in the bank. Is from a stakes winning he-mare, and relished the extra distance last start in her easy win. Has no experience against stakes class, and this is a big test, but if she continues to improve over the longer journey, she could surprise.