Siyouni's Laurens Wins the Fight In Epic Diane

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, by Dawn Approach (Ire)
                1st Dam: White Star (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
                2nd Dam: White Star Line, by Northern Dancer
                3rd Dam: Fast Line, by Mr. Busher
O-Godolphin SNC; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre.
€228,600.
3–Homerique, 126, f, 3, by Exchange Rate
                1st Dam: Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree
                2nd Dam: Conchita, by Cozzene
                3rd Dam: Desert Gold, by Seeking the Gold
($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. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.