CHANNEL WINS THE PRIX DE DIANE, GR.1 IN THRILLING FINISH

The Gr.1 Prix de Diane, the fourth French Classic of the season, threw up a surprise winner in what was a thrilling finish. It was the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Channel, making her first appearance in Stakes company, who took the spoils and gave her sire Nathaniel his second Classic winner.

A strong field of 16 fillies went to post for the French Oaks, with Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Siyarafina the red-hot favourite to maintain her unbeaten record, while British hopes were carried by Roger Varian’s Nausha and John Gosden’s Entitle – first and second in the Musidora at York last month.

Channel tracked the steady pace set by Platane (Le Havre) and she was held on to by Pierre-Charles Boudot until 300m out, at which point she was switched out and kicked for home. She quickly hit the front and was followed through by Commes (Le Havre), while Christophe Soumillon had the same idea aboard Siyarafina. The Aga Khan’s filly picked up well, but could not get to the leader, who held off Commes to score by a head. Grand Glory (Olympic Glory) and Etoile (Siyouni) flew home from way back, the latter not having the easiest of passages, to get third and fourth respectively, half a length and a neck behind the runner-up.

In a race run at a modest pace, Nausha met traffic problems early on and pulled fiercely for her head for the remainder of the contest before fading out of contention. Frankie Dettori rode a patient race aboard Entitle – a half-sister to the brilliant Enable – but she was never in a position to throw down a serious challenge and finished in midfield. Siyarafina was trapped wide for much of the 10-furlong journey and while she looked poised to throw down a serious challenge early in the home straight, she ultimately failed to pick up on the leaders.

This was a first win in the race for former champion jockey Boudot and a first Classic for Graffard, who commented: “These moments are the reason why we train. To win a Classic. This was a dream of mine when I wanted to start training in Chantilly. Incidentally, I come from Paray-le-Monial, as does Pierre-Charles Boudot, and my grandfather had horses in training with his father! This was a fourth career start for Channel, who was unraced at two. She is a half-sister to the juvenile winner Paint (Dutch Art), out of Love Magic (Dansili), also a winner at two. The grandam, Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Magical Romance (Barathea), is a half-sister to the European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and triple Gr.1 Oaks heroine Alexandrova (Sadler’s Wells).