Get the latest views from connections and Man On The Spot's verdict for Sunday's Group One Prix de Diane at Chantilly, featuring 1000 Guineas runner-up Laurens.
Prix de Diane - 3.05 Chantilly, Sunday
Full racecard and live Sky Bet odds
Views from connections
Frankie Dettori believes he has a great opportunity to win the Prix de Diane Longines for a third time when he partners Luminate at Chantilly on Sunday.
The top jockey knows what it takes to claim the French version of the Oaks, having been successful with West Wind (2007) and Star Of Seville (2015), and he has high hopes for Luminate.
"I think that Luminate has a first-class chance in a very open race," said Dettori.
"Freddy (Head, trainer) is a dab-hand when it comes to training fillies as he invariably gets them in tip-top condition. They also go into the race 'fresh' which is essential in a race such as the Prix de Diane.
"The devil really is in the detail which can boil down to the having the best trip during the race, or the progress that these fillies are capable of making on the big occasion."
Luminate, who is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, is unlucky not to be going into the race unbeaten.
Winner of her first three starts, Luminate was second past the post in the Prix Cleopatre after struggling to get a run but was demoted to fifth following a stewards' inquiry with Castellar, who reopposes, taking the prize.
"Luminate was unlucky last time and she certainly stays this trip," said Dettori.
"She has an advantage compared to the foreign fillies in that she is playing 'at home'. As the travel factor, taking into account above all the heat, is never an easy bridge to overcome."
Harry Herbert, Highclere's racing manager, is also going into the race with some confidence.
"We feel she may be better over further and should stay a mile and a half. She's joint top on official ratings for the race," he said.
Head has another leading fancy in With You, who was only beaten a short head by Laurens in the Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp last month.
Laurens had to do most of the donkey work that day and rallied after being headed over a furlong out to get back up close home to land the Group One spoils. Trainer Karl Burke is hoping there will be a stronger gallop to assist his filly this time.
"If they go a good gallop and we can get on a nice, even keel sat handy, that would be perfect," the North Yorkshire handler told At The Races.
"We've already had a look at a mile and two and this gives us another opportunity, hopefully in a truer run race, to see how she's finishing her race out. I'd be very surprised if we don't give her a go at some stage over a mile and a half, whether it's the Irish Oaks or the Yorkshire Oaks. We'll be dictated by how well she comes out of this race."
Aidan O'Brien relies on Happily, who was third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, half a length behind Laurens. The daughter of Galileo has since filled the same position in the Irish equivalent.
The Aga Khan has an interesting contender in Shahnaza, who has won both her starts this season for trainer Alain Royer-Dupre, while Prix Saint Alary third Soustraction is one of two runners for Carlos Laffon-Parais along with Castellar.
O'Brien goes for first French Oaks win
Happily bids to provide O'Brien with a first victory in the race.
The Ballydoyle handler has never previously won the French Classic, but his latest candidate appears to hold strong claims after finishing third in both the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh this spring.
She tests her powers at a mile and a quarter for the first time this weekend and O'Brien does not expect the extra distance to be an inconvenience.
He said: "Happily seems to be in good form since the Irish Guineas.
"She hasn't done an awful lot, but what she has done we're happy with.
"We always thought a mile and a quarter would suit her."
Happily, the mount of Ryan Moore, is the only Irish challenger in a 13-strong field.
British hopes rest on the Karl Burke-trained Laurens, who was runner-up in the Guineas at Newmarket before going one better in the Group One Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp.
Leading contenders for the home team include Freddy Head's pair of Luminate and With You, with Frankie Dettori riding the former for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, and Alain de Royer-Dupre's dual winner Shahnaza.
Man On The Spot verdict
A case can be made for several of these fillies in what looks a terrific renewal. A runner-up in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Laurens took the step up to 1m2f in her stride to win the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp last month though Karl Burke’s filly beat the re-opposing With You by only a neck. The latter will appreciate the forecast soft going and stablemate Luminate will also handle the ground with connections calling on the services of Frankie Dettori. HAPPILY finished just behind Laurens at Newmarket before a slightly disappointing effort in the Irish 1000 Guineas. But she was a dual Group 1 winner in testing ground last year and with this extra distance also expected to suit, we may well see the Ballydoyle filly back to her very best. Shahnaza represents leading connections in France and won a Listed trial at Longchamp in good style while Andre Fabre’s Godolphin filly Musis Amica was a fast finishing sixth in the French 1000 Guineas and this extra distance looks well within her compass on that evidence.