Philomene leads Fabre troika in French Oaks
The one-mile Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, France’s 1000 Guineas, was too short for Philomene, but Sunday’s Prix de Diane, the French Oaks, could be just right.
Philomene is one of 18 entrants in the 1 5/16-mile Prix de Diane and one of three trained by Andre Fabre. Owned by Godolphin, Philomene is a Dubawi filly who’s a half-sister to Magic Wand, the globetrotting Aidan O’Brien-trained mare who banked nearly $5 million in career earnings. Just over 2-1 in the Pouliches, she finished just sixth of 13 but was beaten less than three lengths while slightly short of room in the very late stages. In any case, this filly does not seem like a miler. She won over the trip in her lone start at 2, but Fabre started her off this season going 1 5/16 miles in the Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud. There, Philomene won by more than two lengths over Incarville, winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary in May and less than 10-1 with English bookmakers for Sunday’s race.
The Fabre-trained Burgarita, a Sea The Stars filly, was the tepid Diane favorite as of Friday, though taking a relatively short price on a twice-started horse who never has raced above the listed stakes level seems imprudent. In her debut, Burgarita did comfortably handle Khalidiya, who returned with an eye-catching maiden win of her own and has gotten some betting support for the Diane.
Couersamba scored a 38-1 upset in the Pouliches, which was run over very soft ground. The footing should be firmer Sunday but it’s the Diane’s longer trip that could trouble Coeursamba. Coeursamba’s win came at the expense of the Aidan O’Brien-trained favorite, Mother Earth, who was third, beaten less than two lengths in Friday's Coronation Stakes. O’Brien here tries Joan of Arc, who might have moved up on heavy ground finishing second in the Irish 1000 Guineas on May 23.
Fabre’s third entrant, Light Stars, appears overmatched, but this renewal of the Diane also looks wide open, with the winner likely the filly who improves on the day.
Wesley Ward and Stonestreet Stables, who got a very nice win Friday at Ascot when Campanelle was placed first via disqualification in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, have a runner on this Chantilly card in 2-year-old Napa Spirit. Napa Spirit had been scheduled to start during the Royal Ascot meet but was redirected to Sunday's Group 3 Prix du Bois over a straight six furlongs. Ward won the Prix du Bois in 2019 with Maven.
Post time for the Oaks is 10 a.m. Eastern and you can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.