Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 15th June 2025

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections from Chantilly

Prix de Bois Longines (Group 3) 1.05
Imperial Me Cen (nap)
I think that the exciting Imperial Me Cen can win this Group 3 for Henri-Francois Devin. This colt of Mehmas made a big impression when winning on his maiden contest at Deauville, and then picked up a Listed race at Vichy last month. Although this ground will be soft for him, that is the only negative point, but I think he is still the best horse here. Karl Burke does well with his sprinters in France, so the unbeaten Ali Shuffle and Meelaf have to be on my list, while Satoshi Kobayashi’s Kalkara keeps landing second but will win one soon. Imperial Me Cen is the one for me, even with the softer ground.

Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1) (Fillies) 3.05
Better Together (nap)
This is a very, very good race for the Prix de Diane, but I will take a big chance and think that Andre Fabre’s Better Together will win. Although only fifth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, it was very much the finish blanket, and she was within a length and a half of Shes Perfect, who crossed the line first, but Zarigana of course was promoted to take that Classic. Shes Perfect, running for the popular Basher Watts and his syndicate, will be after revenge, but Mandanaba was just behind Zarigana and Shes Perfect and does not have to find much. With four of the first six home in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in this field, with just Zarigana and Exactly not here, it is a very, very interesting contest, but I will stick with Better Together to see out this longer trip.

Prix Pawneese Longines (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 4.25
Latakia
I’m going to be brave and stick with Latakia for this Listed race. On her debut run, this Frankel filly could not have gone more wrong, when she missed the break and has to make the lots of effort to get back to the field. And, making steady progress to make her in contention, she came round the home bend widest of all, and then was hanging left in the home straight. All in all, very, very green, but somehow she won, and now has the new rider for Juddmonte, Colin Keane with her. Mme Jourdain is a good filly for Andre Fabre, and I think these will be the two at the front, with Latakia to improve.

Prix du Lys Longines (Group 3) 5.00
Surabad
Francis-Henri Graffard’s Surabad has won two of his three races this year, and I think that he can win this too. He just held off the charge of Croquis in the Listed race in April, over this trip, and with the ground here at Chantilly also soft, he looks like the one to beat. Yann Barberot’s Rafale Design is the one that already has Group 3 form, after his win in the Prix Hocquart, and of course Croquis is also in the race. These are the three that stand out, but I think Surabad has more to to come so gets my pick.

Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines (Group 3) 5.35
Vertbois
Andre Fabre has the best one in this Group 3 with Vertbois, so I think this is the one to follow. He couldn’t quite catch his stablemate Tribalist in the Prix du Muguet, but that was a Group 2 and he was finishing very, very fast there. This ground is softer, but he has won on heavy ground, so that does not make me of concern. Of course, Marhaba Ya Sanafi has won at the highest level, so is always a danger, and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zabiari won the Prix de la Theve here over the course and distance last time. Fast Raaj completes my list, as I think this ground is too slow for Hamad Al Jehani’s Make Me King, so it is Vertbois I will pick.