PRIX DE DIANE 2018: Arrivée : 3 – 6 – 5 – 2 – 11
LES GAGNANTS
LA POULICHE : LAURENS
Triple lauréate à l’age de 2 ans, Laurens, fille de Siyouni, avait entamé son année 2018 par une deuxième place dans les 1000 guinees anglaises, derrière Billesdon Brook, lauréate surprise à plus de 80/1. Suite à cet accessit d’honneur dans ce groupe I, son entourage avait décidé de se diriger vers le programme classique français, profitant de son statut de pouliche née et élévée en France. Lauréate du Prix Saint-Alary (Groupe 1) en repoussant au prix d’une vive lutte, With You. La pouliche entraîné dans le nord de l’angleterre s’est montrée accrocheuse, tenace et tout simplement la meilleure pour dominer ses rivales dans une vraie arrivée de handicap où les cinq premières se tiennent en moins d’une longueur. Un doublé “Saint-Alary-Diane” déjà réalisée par Sarafina en 2010 et Stacelita en 2009. Elle permet au “God Save The Queen” de retentir sur l’hippodrome des Princes de Condé, trois ans après Star of Seville, dernier succès britannique, dans un Prix de Diane.
Pour rajouter à la performance héroïque de Laurens, elle a terminé son parcours en étant déferrée de l’antérieur gauche.
L’entraîneur : KARL RICHARD BURKE
Karl Richard Burke n’est pas un inconnu sur les programmes français. Souvent vu à son avantage avec la jeune génération notamment avec les 2 ans, il avait sellé Unfortunately, lauréat des Prix Robert Papin et Morny 2017. Laurens, gagnante des The Fillies Mile à Newmarket 2017 rajoute une nouvelle victoire dans son escarcelle pour justifier sa réussite. Ancien jockey d’obstacles, le natif de Rugby, adore la France puisque déjà en 2009, Lord Shanakill avait enlevé le Prix Jean Prat (G1). Plus récemment Odeliz, 4e du Prix Rotschild (G1) en 2015, avait fini par enlever le Prix Jean Romanet (G1) 20 jours plus tard devant une certaine…Avenir Certain. Parmi ses autres succès de prestige une victoire dans les Dante Stakes en 2013 avec Libertarian, faisant de lui le premier entraineur du Yorkshire à s’imposer dans cette épreuve depuis 70 ans.
LE JOCKEY : PATRICK JOSEPH MCDONALD
Communément appelé “P.J” par tout le microcosme hippique, le jockey irlandais ancien jockey d’obstacles reconverti en jockey de plat vient de signer l’année dernière sa meilleure saison en s’imposant à 128 reprises en 887 montes. Arrivée en 2005 en Grande-Bretagne, il accède au plus haut niveau grâce à des entraineurs tels que Mark Johnston et Karl Burke. Lui qui n’a jamais eu “de connections dans les courses, ni monté dans les courses de poneys a toujours voulu être jockey” comme il aime le dire. Suite à son succès dans lePrix de Diane 2018, le professionnel irlandais remercie tous ceux qui lui ont accordé leur confiance. Une belle récompense pour un homme qui n’a jamais douté de lui.
La note
Music Amica a rapidement occupé la dernière place du peloton, étant même accompagnée aux bras par son jockey Mickaël Barzalona. Déjà remarquée dans la Poule d’Essai des Pouliches à ParisLongchamp où elle avait pris la sixième place, elle crêve une nouvelle fois l’écran échouant de peu pour le succès. Son jockey s’est exprimé au micro de Miguel Blancpain.
La déception
Shahnaza était la grande favorite de cette édition 2018 à 2,9/1. Cachée dans le dos de With You, la partenaire de Christophe Soumillon s’est porté près des premières à mi-ligne droite sans pouvoir réellement jaillir dans la phase finale. Elle termine correctement au septième rang. La cravache d’or 2017 revient sur la performance de sa pouliche qui n’a pas été aidée par le terrain du jour. (fonte : Equidia)
Gutsy Laurens fights off her rivals for a memorable victory in French Oaks
You only need one word to describe Laurens: tenacious. And Karl Burke’s filly had to be that and more as she bravely denied all-comers from the front to land the Prix de Diane for PJ McDonald.
Racing in second for much of the journey, Prix Saint-Alary winner Laurens was one of the first fillies to be asked to quicken, but she proved impossible to pass in a typically bunched finish at Chantilly to hold on by a neck.
John Dance’s admirable three-year-old has yet to be out of the first two places in seven starts now, winning five times, three of which have been at Group 1 level.
At the start, Frankie Dettori rousted Luminate up to take the lead in the early stages with Laurens, who was drawn out wide in 12, also prominent along with Homerique and Castellar.
Musis Amica was detached and outpaced early on before storming home to grab second with Homerique – who was supplemented for the contest – staying on well to finish third.
Aidan O’Brien is yet to win the Prix de Diane and his wait for the Classic will continue as his representative Happily finished fourth. Close up leaving the stalls, she lost places throughout the race before running on again late.
Owner Dance said: “It’s fantastic! When we bought the filly this was the race we talked about, literally the day we bought her, so to actually come here and win it, it’s incredible.
“She’s French-bred and she obviously loves France and coming back home.
“She’s a superstar. She’s achieved so much already, it seemed a bit greedy to think she could win again today, but she’s proved she’s top-class and it’s a dream come true.”
On her never-say-die attitude, he said: “She’s talented and she’s gutsy, she’s so gutsy. She just bats them away, doesn’t she.”
Paddy Power have made Laurens a 16-1 shot to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.
Full result (fonte : RacingPost)
Siyouni’s Laurens Wins the Fight In Epic Diane
Updated: June 17, 2018 at 12:39 pm
| 5th at CHY, Gr. Stk, €1,000,000 | G1 Prix de Diane Longines | (10 1/2f) | Winner: Laurens (Fr), f, 3 by Siyouni (Fr) |
Laurens and PJ McDonald | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
There are horses that are just solid group 1 material through and through and John Dance’s Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) proved the epitome of that yet again on Sunday when producing her usual level best to garner glory in an epic renewal of Chantilly’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Always prominent under P J McDonald, the 15-2 shot took up the baton two furlongs from home and those “come and get me” tactics which had served her so well in her previous top-flight wins in the G1 Fillies Mile and G1 Prix Saint-Alary paid handsome dividends on one of the biggest stages of European racing. A blanket of rivals tried their hardest to match her relentless mighty stride and failed and it was only the notoriously slow-burning Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) who could have managed it had her run not taken so long to come. At the line, Karl Burke’s jewel of the North England base of Middleham had a neck to spare over that Godolphin filly, who nosed out Homerique (Exchange Rate) and there was no more than a half length separating the first five home.
There are only two peers who have managed to upstage Laurens, who proved the key member of John Dance’s ambitious quest to establish his own breeding operation two years ago, and they are Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). The former managed to prevail in the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Calvados at Deauville in August, while the latter rushed by too fast for a response on her reintroduction in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 6. In between, she annexed the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster in September and G1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket in October, where the fast-finishing September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was deemed an unlucky loser but connections of Laurens were adamant that she was the worthy winner. Neither that rival nor the Fillies Mile third Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) have been seen so far in 2018, while the fourth home Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has also had her injury issues this term and so Laurens has remained under the radar despite her achievements. Her Guineas effort was solid as expected and that form continues to work out with the third Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also in that spot in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas before finishing a half-length behind Laurens here in fourth, Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) being second in the G1 Epsom Oaks and Soliloquy (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) fourth in the Irish Guineas.
Brought to France three weeks after the Newmarket Classic to deny With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) by a short head in the Saint-Alary, Laurens was being asked another demanding question especially from an unfavourable wide draw in 12 but her uncomplicated nature and tremendous stride saw her quickly overcome that potential handicap as she sauntered upsides the race’s animator Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). In early straight, there were a host of threats winding up in behind with Homerique, With You, Happily and the 27-10 favourite Shahnaza (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) all within striking distance and Musis Amica finally picking up out wide having been detached in last early and needing constant cajoling to stay in touch. Once Laurens had put her head in front, all her rivals had to dig deep into their reserves and none were able to shake her iron resolution.
“She was magnificent,” commented her jockey, another to have switched from obstacles to the flat having ridden the 2007 Scottish Grand National winner over fences. “She did everything I asked of her. I have been waiting my whole career for a filly like her. A few years ago, I was still a jumps jockey, but I always had faith in myself. In this field, both the horses and the people must trust you. And today, I would like to thank everyone who put their trust in me. It has meant a lot to me.” This win represented a masterful piece of forward planning by Karl Burke, who had mentioned this Classic in the immediate aftermath of the Fillies Mile. “Laurens was extremely well ridden,” he said. “Her jockey never panicked. She’s a fantastic horse, a fighter. She was maybe underestimated, but after everything she has accomplished. Her toughness came through today. It is the victory of a team. Great races are not won without a great team. And we thank Lucy, who takes care of her every morning.”
John Dance has a return visit to France in mind now. “She is a talented filly with a huge heart,” he said. “She is simply incredible. The final two furlongs were hard for me to watch–my heart skipped a beat. Her true talent came through today. Running her in the [G1] Irish Oaks [at The Curragh July 21] is an option, but she has just finished three tough races so we may wait until the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks [at York Aug. 23]. And we might return to France for the [G1] Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 7].”
Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented of the runner-up, “Musis Amica is a very laid-back filly who finishes her races strongly and it was an extraordinary effort from her to finish second. We will certainly be looking at the options over a mile and a half for her now. We will see how she comes out of the race before deciding where to go next, but it was great to see her run so well against some very strong opposition.” Francis-Henri Graffard said of Homerique, “We are disappointed by the loss, because we would have liked to see the filly win but she ran well. I’ll admit I am relieved, because it’s stressful to run a filly like her with no experience in the Diane. Today the runners couldn’t come from behind, that’s why I asked Pierre-Charles Boudot to ride her more aggressively, contrary to her previous starts. She broke well and had a perfect run, but towards the finish her efforts only motivated the winner, who was very resilient, to push harder.”
Laurens is the last known foal out of the modest maiden Recambe (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a half-sister to the Hong Kong Derby-winning sire Salford Mill (Ire) from the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Shifting Power (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) and G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Kinnaird (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}). The latter produced the G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and is the second dam of Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), who took the G2 July S. and G2 Richmond S. and was second in the G1 Middle Park S. and third in the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas. Like the card’s G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), she descends from one of His Highness The Aga Khan’s dynasties which features the G3 Killavullan S. scorer and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Rayeni (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-17, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.11, g/s.
1–LAURENS (FR), 126, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues
(£220,000 Ylg ’16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-PJ McDonald. €571,400. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 7-5-2-0, €1,288,573. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Musis Amica (Ire), 126, f, 3, Dawn Approach (Ire)–White Star (Ire), by Darshaan (GB). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €228,600.
3–Homerique, 126, f, 3, Exchange Rate–Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree. ($34,000 RNA Wlg ’15 KEENOV; 22,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; €75,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-Ecurie de Montlahuc; B-Nicolas & Francois Drion (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €114,300.
Margins: NK, NO, HD. Odds: 7.60, 8.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Happily (Ire), With You (GB), Lady Athena (Fr), Shahnaza (Fr), Soustraction (Ire), Barkaa (Fr), Castellar (Fr), Amazing Lips (Ire), Luminate (Ire), Assonance (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (fonte : TDN)
