Prix De Diane 2012

2.45 Chantilly

Prix De Diane (French Oaks) (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner €572,100

Advice: 1 pt each/way Up (12/1 general)

Sagrarwara: Brushed aside by Beauty Parlour on first start at 2 but took that experience and turned it into good win at Saint Cloud next time; Beaten on return behind Trois Lunes (said to have needed it by trainer) before showing grit and determination to land the Prix Saint Alary at Longchamp last time; That often a good trial for this race (owner has had two winners take that route very recently) and interesting at prices as big as 20’s with ground presumably not a major hiccup, although the faster the better for her.

Valrya: Two from two, having come clear with the runner up in provincial company at Bordeaux and comfortable winner of conditions race next time out; Form of that nowhere near as good as this race but has been supplemented and booking of Murtagh has to take the eye; Respected here despite steep step up in class.

Dalakala: No.1 string for the Aga Khan according to jockey choices, having been impressive in winning the Prix Cleopatre last time out, taking her record to 3 on the trot; Must be respected on that and does have a win on soft ground win to her name but faster the better for her, although hard not to think that she’s an improving horse in any case.

Rjwa: Rapid improvement made as a 2yo has carried on this year, with Group 3 third behind Walderche (who was put in her place by Dalakala) followed by close up second in Saint Alary; Needs more than that here and others preferred/less exposed.

Forces Of Darkness: Hadn’t won a race this season until landing small conditions race but flattered by good ride in slowly run Prix Saint Alary last time out when only half a length behind Sagarawara; Needs far more and ground an unknkown.

Leaupartie: Followed up promising effort in fillies maiden (form looks good at first glance and is working out acceptably) and form of her win last time out boosted by the second coming winning since; Marked rise in class probably enough to put me off.

Kissed: Half-sister to last year’s Derby winner Pour Moi; Won cosily on her debut at Navan as a 2yo but blew that out of water with Listed romp in Salsabil Stakes, barely coming off the bridle to win by eight and a half lengths; Form in behind not worked out but second got within a length of Princess Highway in Blue Wind Stakes so clearly high class and has to be respected with ground conditions having come up trumps for her (connections missed the Epsom Oaks for the reason of the ground); Major chance.

Up: Promise as 2yo when winning easily at Dundalk before being trapped out wide having faield for a run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Better with ever run this year, latest effort being an excellent second in the Pouliches behind Beauty Parlour, having suffered horror passage (drawn awfully) before staying on late; Nobody expects that form to be turned around but extra distance should be no problem

Beauty Parlour: Unbeaten in 4, announcing herself as one of best 3yo fillies with win Pouliches over Up (reopposes), having followed up her hugely impressive Prix La Grotte win beforehand; Strongly fancied to win again today but this a tougher test than all of her other tasks so far and hard to get too excited about very short price; Is bred to improve for the trip.

Best Of All: Pacemaker for Beauty Parlour.

Trois Lunes: Got the better of Prix Saint Alary winner Sagawara in Prix Vanteaux on last start, notably on heavy ground (had fair bit in hand at the fnish); Open to progress here and ground likely to suit but this an although tougher event; Not hard to be tempted at 20’s.

Peitie Noblesse: Looked as if she could be execpetional when winning by 6 lengths at Longchamp (heavy ground); Very keen in Pouliches and never got into it but could be a different story today and connections persevere.

VERDICT: In keeping with most fillies races seen this season, a race strong on form and potential, with two Group 1 winners and a hatful that promise to achieve more. The attention’s all on Beauty Parlour, who has looked very good in winning her 4 races (including the French Guineas) and has been compared to the legendry Zarkava by her Jockey Cristophe Soumillion amongst other, but faces a yet stronger test here at very cramped odds. Kissed makes a huge amount of appeal based on her smooth listed win, while she’s sure to love ease in the ground, but it could be the stable second string up UP that also poses a big threat, with her French Guineas second all the more creditable due to her bad draw and trip. On that form, she shouldn’t be as big as 12/1 and 2/1 to place, with a better trip sure to see her closer. Dalakala was one of the most impressive fillies in the field and fully deserves the choice of Cristophe Lemaire, but the soft ground could be the stumbling block for her; If the ground dries up, she seems sure to play a major hand.