Gilded Prize team leaning towards Chantilly Classic Connections could be leaning towards a tilt at the Prix de Diane rather than the Oaks with the exciting Gilded Prize if she maintains her unbeaten record at Saint-Cloud on Friday. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the daughter of Frankel won with ease on her debut last autumn and then again wowed on her return at Chantilly last month to tee-up a step up in class for the Prix Cleopatre. Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “She looks really well and has come out of her race really well. “She’s hopefully intended to run in the Group Three Prix Cleopatre which is obviously going to be a big step up in class and we’ll see how she comes through that. “She’s an exciting filly and hopefully she can continue on her upwards trajectory.” Gilded Prize’s Epsom entry could give connections what would be a tantalising raid on a prize the owners last won with Enable back in 2017, but the the mile-and-a-half test of the Surrey Downs could be seen as too much of a stamina poser at this stage of her career, with a Classic tilt at Chantilly the alternative. “We’re a little unsure what her target will be and her pedigree, being out of a Dansili mare, would suggest the 12 furlongs could be a struggle,” continued Mahon. “Depending on her next start, Epsom or the Prix de Diane would be the obvious targets, one being 10 and one 12 furlongs. Pedigree would lead you to believe a stiff 12 furlongs could be a stretch at this stage of her career, so probably France looks the more likely one at this stage.”
