All eyes of fans of the turf will be on the Royal Ascot meeting next week. However before we get to the summit of summer racing in Europe, one major fillies' classic remains to be run in Europe and that is the 2100 m. Prix de Diane Longines, also known as the French Oaks. The prestigious event's 166^th renewal will take place at the grand Chantilly track near Paris on Sunday, June 14^th at 3:45 p.m. CET (7:15 p.m. in India).

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Ervedya (by Siyouni) has been retained for a crack at Ascot. In her absence, as many as 17 fillies have been declared for the €1,000,000 feature, which includes a pair of supplementary entries – Physiocrate (by Doctor Dino) and Desiree Clary (by Sholokhov). The former is unbeaten in 2 starts, both at Chantilly, so should appreciate the conditions. What's more, she beat the latter in the second of those two appearances, but both are making a huge jump in class and one will have to take a leap of faith to support either.

One who is unbeaten and also has experience at the highest level is the Prix Saint-Alary winner, Queen's Jewel (by Pivotal) so it's hardly surprising that she is the warm favourite at around 6 to 4. Home-bred by Ecurie Wertheimer, she is schooled by Freddie Head – whose stable is in top form – and will have Maxime Guyon astride. Unfortunately, they are drawn wide in stall 17 – although New Bay did not let an outside draw hamper his surge to victory in the Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby a couple of weeks ago. Head know what it takes to win a race like this, having piloted such stars as Pistol Packer and Reine de Saba amongst others to victory in the Diane during his riding days.

The third of those that have yet to taste defeat is Mojo Risin (by Lope de Vega) who has hitherto been plying her trade in the South-West of France, where her handler Jean-Claude Rouget is based. This filly will be steered by Gregory Benoist while the same stable's other participant, Stay The Night (by Arch) is the mount of Jean-Bernard Eyquem. It may be recalled that Benoist and Rouget had joined forces last year to prevail in this race through Avenir Certain and they will undoubtedly be aiming for a back-to-back repeat with a filly who has been targeted for this race for a while.

Fresh off their Investec Epsom Derby triumph, the team of John Gosden and Frankie Dettori will be attempting a personal classic double through Lady Bamford's Star Of Seville, an experienced daughter of Duke Of Marmalade. The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner ran no sort of race just 9 days ago in the Investec Epsom Oaks, when hampered and seeming not to stay. One presumes she emerged unscathed from that effort, else her shrewd trainer would not have risked sending her from England for this cross-Channel adventure.

Accompanying her as the only other British raider will be Malabar (by Raven's Pass), from Mick Channon's West Ilsley yard. She will have Richard Hughes aboard; he will of course be hoping to make his last chance of annexing this prize a winning one. A dozen years ago he had inscribed his name on the roll of honour when partnering Nebraska Tornado.

While major powerhouses like Juddmonte and Coolmore and the Aga Khan studs are not represented, a familiar name on the race-card is that of trainer Andre Fabre, who sends out the consistent Ame Bleue (by Dubawi). However, she looks to be in too deep but as Fabre has shown in the past, he rarely fields a complete "no-hoper".

Those with a long memory will recall the stellar feats of the great Allez France, which included carrying the Wildenstein silks to victory in this very race in 1973. Those blue silks were also seen adorning the 2001 heroine, Aquarelliste, and will be sported here by the likeable Little Nightingale (by Muhtathir), recent winner of the Prix Cleopatre despite being in season on the day. Umberto Rispoli will guide the fate of the ward of Biarritz-born Mikel Delzangles.

Although Ireland is without a runner, Germany is represented by the consistent Peter Schiergen-trainee Nightflower (by Dylan Thomas), who won the Diana-Trial and has never been out of 1-2 from her 4 starts, which have included a couple of efforts in France. Regular rider Andreas Starke will continue his association with the improving sort, although she has to find something on the form book vis-à-vis Desiree Clary and Little Nightingale, both of which have beaten her previously.

A rare Italian presence embellishes the field. Stefano Botti's Sound Of Freedom (by Duke Of Marmalade) was not beaten too far when tackling colts in the 2200 m. Derby Italiano and has won her other four races, all over the metric mile. As she stays well, it would not be surprising if Fabio Branca positions her amongst the leaders before kicking for home early in the proceedings.

In the final analysis, one should stick with the more consistent locally-trained runners, while not ignoring those that have taken the trouble to travel from abroad. Queen's Jewel, Mojo Risin, Little Nightingale and Physiocrate are examples of the first group, while Nightflower and Sound Of Freedom might prove best of the shippers.