 Expert - Bill Esdaile | |
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| Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races. | |
Expert Column for Prix de Diane (S1-1) (Bill Esdaile)
S1-1 Prix de Diane
The famous green and red silks of the Aga Khan have been carried to victory a record seven times in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly. He hasn’t won the race since 2012 but looks to have a great chance of winning the 2,100m contest this year with Alain de Royer Dupre’s SIYARAFINA. The daughter of PIVOTAL didn’t run as a 2YO, but has looked very impressive on her three starts this season. She won comfortably on debut at Saint Cloud over 1,600m, before winning the Conditions race over the same distance on her next start. Though it was only a conditions race, the form of that win looks strong with the runner-up COMMES finishing a close second to CASTLE LADY in the 1,600m G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. SIYARAFINA then cemented that form when she won the G1 Prix Saint-Alary over 2,000m on her most recent appearance. If in similar form here, she should prove very hard to beat.
COMMES could be the one to chase her home again. Jean-Claude Rouget’s contender ran well in lesser races as a 2YO, finishing first at Deauville over 1,600m, before coming second at Chantilly over the same distance. She stepped up markedly to finish a good second to SIYARAFINA at ParisLongchamp on her seasonal reappearance and again when the runner-up in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. The only concern with her would be if the ground was on the quick side with her all of her form coming on a softer surface.
Rouget holds a strong hand in the race, with ETOILE, CARTIEM and EBONY also all set to run.
ETOILE looks the best of that trio. She has won three of her four career starts, with her most recent coming over 2,100m in the G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint Cloud. Her trainer immediately pinpointed this as the next target and she’s another who should go well. Again, her breeding and form suggest a softer surface will be more to her liking, though.
This is a much deeper race than EBONY has run in previously and instead CARTIEM looks a more solid candidate. The 3YO filly has won her last three races, with the G3 Prix Penelope at Saint Cloud over 2,100m, on her most recent start, the highlight. She is improving with every run and looks another contender for a trainer seeking his fifth win in the race.
An overseas runner was victorious 12 months ago when LAURENS took the prize and on the back of her win in the G3 Musidora Stakes at York, NAUSHA must come into the reckoning this time around. The daughter of KINGMAN looked to relish the step up to 2,051m that day, having been beaten at a short price on her seasonal reappearance in an all-weather conditions race at Kempton over 1,600m. Roger Varian’s yard continue to fire in plenty of winners and his filly looks the best of the overseas challenge.
Fellow Great Britain runner ENTITLE is another who deserves a mention. She was just a neck behind NAUSHA in the G3 Musidora Stakes and looks closely match with that rival again. Frankie Dettori and John Gosden won the race in 2015 with STAR OF SEVILLE and ENTITLE should go well for the pair again, though I expect NAUSHA to improve again and confirm the form from York.
SELECTIONS:3. SIYARAFINA, 16. COMMES, 7. ETOILE, 5. NAUSHA & 8. CARTIEM
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