Soul Sister and Running Lion in contention for Prix de Diane at Chantilly

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Mon June 12, 2023 · 1y ago

John and Thady Gosden have entered both Soul Sister and Running Lion in Sunday's Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly.

The Gosdens' Clarehaven yard was responsible for 2022 winner Nashwa, who had run in the Oaks just a fortnight beforehand, and this year's Epsom heroine Soul Sister has the option of reappearing over the shorter 10-furlong distance in France, along with stablemate Running Lion, who was an impressive winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket before being withdrawn when playing up at the start of the Oaks.

Epsom third Caernarfon, trained by Jack Channon, is in line to reoppose the winner, while further British interest is provided by Karl Burke's Novakai, who followed home Soul Sister when last seen in the Musidora Stakes at York's Dante Festival.

Aidan O'Brien won his first Prix de Diane two years ago with Joan Of Arc and has entered Dubawi filly Never Ending Story, while Donnacha O'Brien was successful in the race courtesy of Fancy Blue in 2020 and now another son of O'Brien's, Joseph, bids to add his name to the roll of honour with Blue Wind Stakes scorer Caroline Street entered this weekend.

There are 18 initial acceptors in total (supplementary stage on Wednesday), with dual Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen, representing trainer Christopher Head, the pick of the home team which also includes the highly promising and unbeaten pair of Jannah Rose (Carlos Laffon-Parias) and Andre Fabre's Pensee Du Jour.

Owned by Ballymore Thoroughbreds, for whom Fabre trained Miss France to win the 1000 Guineas in 2014 and also guided Persian King to a trio of Group One victories, connections are hopeful Pensee Du Jour will continue her progressive ways following a short break.

“She was a backwards filly last year and Andre thought he could win some black type early on this year,” said Anthony Stroud, racing manager for Ballymore.

“Then she developed and developed and she won three races. After she won those races we thought we would give her a bit of time, as she had run in those races quite quickly.

“I thought she won nicely and in a progressive way (in the Prix Penelope). She has had to make the running in her three races and it would be nice if she didn’t. She’s also had three different jockeys on, so it will be nice that she will have a bit of consistency next time.”

“I would hope she will handle the ground OK, but I would love to see a thunderstorm come along,” continued Stroud.

“I would like there to be some sort of rainfall. She’s never run on this ground but we know she goes with a bit of ease in the ground, so I would like a thunderstorm to appear.”

If Sunday’s Classic mission proves successful, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe could prove an enticing proposition later in the year considering Fabre’s impeccable record in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest and the filly’s proven attributes on soft ground.

Although preferring to focus on matters closer to hand, Stroud is allowing himself to briefly dream about such races later in the season, with him envisaging Pensee Du Jour’s future lying over further.

He added: “I could see her going up to a mile and a half down the line and I think as time goes on, she will get better as she is quite a physically big filly. But it’s not often you have a filly that has won all three of her races and she deserves her chance to take part in this race.

“I think the Arc would be a wonderful dream, but we have to take it step by step and this weekend coming is the next step.

“I’m sure she will have a break and we will see how she is and then we will be advised by Andre. Of course there is the Prix Vermeille and the Arc, but I think it is important to not get ahead of ourselves, get Sunday out of the way and go from there. But it’s good to have dreams.”

Blue Rose Cen and Soul Sister share market favouritism at 3/1 with Betfair Sportsbook, just ahead of Pensee Du Jour and Running Lion who are both 4/1. It's 10/1 Caernarfon and Jannah Rose, with Never Ending Story 16/1.

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