Longines Prix de Diane: Laurens wins France’s fillies’ Classic | CNN

Longines Prix de Diane: Laurens wins France’s fillies’ Classic

By Rob Hodgetts, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 1:45 PM EDT, Sun June 17, 2018
Chantilly racecourse to the north of Paris is the home of French racing and hosts some of Europe's most prestigious events. The Longines Prix de Diane is a French Classic and the equivalent of the English Oaks. It also hosts the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby.
Chantilly racecourse to the north of Paris is the home of French racing and hosts some of Europe's most prestigious events. The Longines Prix de Diane is a French Classic and the equivalent of the English Oaks. It also hosts the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Chantilly is an historic estate featuring the 16th century Petit Chateau and the Grand Chateau, which was destroyed during the French Revolution but rebuilt in the 1870s.
Chantilly is an historic estate featuring the 16th century Petit Chateau and the Grand Chateau, which was destroyed during the French Revolution but rebuilt in the 1870s.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Chantilly hosts the famous Museum of the Horse in the iconic Great Stables, which were built in 1719.
Chantilly hosts the famous Museum of the Horse in the iconic Great Stables, which were built in 1719.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
The Hippodrome de Chantilly features three interlinked tracks surrounded by woodland in France's main horse racing center. The first race was held here in 1834 with the grandstand added in 1879.
The Hippodrome de Chantilly features three interlinked tracks surrounded by woodland in France's main horse racing center. The first race was held here in 1834 with the grandstand added in 1879.
Francois Durand/Getty Images
The Prix de Diane, established in 1843, is a fixture on the French sporting and cultural calendar and attracts the cream of Paris society for a day out at the races.
The Prix de Diane, established in 1843, is a fixture on the French sporting and cultural calendar and attracts the cream of Paris society for a day out at the races.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
June's Prix de Diane is a 2,100-meter (1 mile 2½ furlongs) race for three-year-old fillies, known as the French Oaks in reference to the English fillies' Classic at Epsom the day before the Derby.
June's Prix de Diane is a 2,100-meter (1 mile 2½ furlongs) race for three-year-old fillies, known as the French Oaks in reference to the English fillies' Classic at Epsom the day before the Derby.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Laurens (center) beat Godolphin's Musis Amica (right) and Homerique to victory in the Prix de Dianes in 2018.
Laurens (center) beat Godolphin's Musis Amica (right) and Homerique to victory in the Prix de Dianes in 2018.
LUCAS BARIOULET/Getty Images
Chantilly was used for horse racing scenes in the 1985 James Bond film "A View to a Kill," featuring Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) as the evil villain.
Chantilly was used for horse racing scenes in the 1985 James Bond film "A View to a Kill," featuring Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) as the evil villain.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
The race meeting is a chance for Parisians to escape the city, dress up and enjoy a day in the magnificent surroundings of Chantilly.
The race meeting is a chance for Parisians to escape the city, dress up and enjoy a day in the magnificent surroundings of Chantilly.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/Getty Images
Parisian elegance and equine excellence are on show at Chantilly for the Prix de Diane.
Parisian elegance and equine excellence are on show at Chantilly for the Prix de Diane.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images
The race attracts a purse of €1 million ($1.13M) with the winning connections taking home about €570,000 ($643,000).
The race attracts a purse of €1 million ($1.13M) with the winning connections taking home about €570,000 ($643,000).
MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE/AFP/Getty Images
Six winners have gone on to triumph in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc du Triomphe, most recently Treve in 2013. La Cressonniere (pictured) won in 2016.
Six winners have gone on to triumph in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc du Triomphe, most recently Treve in 2013. La Cressonniere (pictured) won in 2016.
MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE/AFP/Getty Images
In 2016 and 2017 Chantilly was the venue for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most valuable horse race, while its traditional home Longchamp was being renovated.
In 2016 and 2017 Chantilly was the venue for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most valuable horse race, while its traditional home Longchamp was being renovated.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images
The Prix de Diane day is a day of garden parties and al fresco entertainment.
The Prix de Diane day is a day of garden parties and al fresco entertainment.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images
Longines Prix de Diane: Elegance meets equine excellence in Classic

Story highlights

Laurens wins Longines Prix de Diane

FIlly beats Musis Amica with Homerique third

Could target Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October

CNN  — 

It’s one of the jewels of European racing, and Laurens was crowned queen of the Longines Prix de Diane, France’s equivalent of fillies’ classic the Oaks.

The Karl Burke-trained three-year-old, ridden by PJ McDonald, nosed out of the pack to edge the fast-finishing Goldphin runner Musis Amica over the 2,100-meter (1m 2½ furlong) race at Chantilly north of Paris.

Laurens, who was second behind surprise winner Billesdon Brook in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, scored a third Group 1 success and handed Burke and McDonald their first Classic victory.

Homerique was third with Aidan O’Brien’s pre-Guineas favorite Happily fourth.

“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,” owner John Dance was reported as saying in the Racing Post.

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Laurens' British jockey PJ McDonald celebrates winning the 169th Prix de Diane at Chantilly.
Laurens' British jockey PJ McDonald celebrates winning the 169th Prix de Diane at Chantilly.
LUCAS BARIOULET/Getty Images

Laurens, who scooped her connections 571,000 euros ($662,000), won the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October and also triumphed in the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp three weeks ago.

Burke said she could be targeted at Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the newly redeveloped Longchamp in October.

“I would say sitting here there is no reason why we won’t be lining up in the Arc, but there’s at least one race in between now and then she should be going for,” Burke was reported as saying in the Racing Post.

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Before then he and Dance are plotting a raid on the Irish Oaks and their native Yorkshire Oaks

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The Prix de Diane is the highlight on a nine-race card, a celebration of equine excellence and French fashion elegance in the surrounds of the majestic Chantilly estate.