Dettori chasing further Classic glory at Chantilly
Alex Pantall believes he has the right combination of a progressive filly and an in-form jockey in the shape of West Wind and Frankie Dettori for the Prix de Diane Hermes at Chantilly on Sunday.
The lightly-raced West Wind was supplemented for the French Oaks at a cost of €48,000 by owner Sheikh Mohammed on Thursday.
This gives Dettori the chance of a third Classic win in just eight days following his English/French Derby double on Authorized and Lawman.
“She is good, no problem. She has worked well, the weather is right for her at the moment and the jockey is good,” said the French trainer.
“She is improving and the jockey will decide.”
West Wind did not make her racecourse debut until March and was successful at the third attempt a month ago on this course.
Sweet Lilly, trained by Mick Channon, is the sole British challenger among a field of 14 for the fillies’ Classic over 10-and-a-half furlongs.
She put a disappointing show in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket behind her when running Passage Of Time to a neck in the Musidora Stakes over this distance at York.
“She’s got drawn in the middle, seven, and we’re hopeful. On her run at York she’s in there with a good shout. She ran a very good race there,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.
“She’s pretty tough. I think what she lacks in star quality she certainly makes up for in toughness.
“I’m sure this is her distance and she won’t mind what pace they go.”
The line-up also includes the Andre Fabre-trained pair Vadapolina and Cinnamon Bay, while Believe Me represents Jean-Marc Beguigne, who is seeking a French Classic double after Lawman’s win last Sunday.
