Diane the perfect appetiser to Ascot feast

The sheer volume of quality racing in Europe this month is almost overwhelming, and Sunday’s exquisite Chantilly meeting provides the perfect start to a week that showcases a variety of equine superstars over five days at Royal Ascot.

The G1 Prix de Diane is France’s most glamorous fixture, and this year’s renewal of the fillies’ Classic offers plenty for discussion.

The 13 declared appear an evenly matched bunch, with several likely improvers capable of springing from the pack on the anticipated ‘Soft’ ground.

Godolphin rely on the talented Musis Amica, who comes to this French Oaks off the back of a strong-finishing sixth to Teppal in the G1 French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp last month.

Trainer Andre Fabre is expecting a good run from this promising filly.

“Musis Amica is in good form and should appreciate the step up in trip,” Fabre said.

The daughter of Dawn Approach is out of a Darshaan mare, so the step up in trip from 1,600m (one mile) to 2,100m (10 and a half furlongs) should be appreciated.

She took up a position at the rear of the field in her most recent outing, but she then finished full of running to be only a length and a half behind the winner on the line.

Both Happily and Laurens have G1 form on the board, but big improvement is expected from the Aga Khan’s filly Shahnaza and George Strawbridge’s With You.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Happily defeated the colts in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly in October — she beat Olmedo and Godolphin’s G1 Derby winner Masar — and she was placed third in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

With You finished a short head second to Laurens in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp and there is great confidence in the Freddy Head stable that she can reverse that form this weekend.

This year’s Prix de Diane has all the makings of a Classic that may well uncover a star filly to scale the heights in the second half of the season.