Diamond Necklace is the favorite for the upcoming French Classic race, having extended her unbeaten streak to four with a Group 1 win in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp in May 2026 [1, 2]. She won the 1,600m Classic decisively and is expected to handle the race distance well.
Other notable runners include Evolutionist, who won a ParisLongchamp Group 3 and finished second out of 19 runners in a Group 1 Classic at Newmarket this year. Evolutionist is also expected to manage the distance effectively [1, 2].
Felicitas, having won her first two starts and narrowly missed victory in a Group 3 race at York over a similar distance, targets this race with potential to make a significant impact [1, 2].
Esna placed fourth in a Group 1 at ParisLongchamp last October and has since won a 2,000m Listed race at Newbury in 2026. She appears well-suited for the expected distance [1, 2].
Habibi, a two-race winner, finished fourth in a 2,000m Group 2 at ParisLongchamp in March 2026, showing promise against higher class but is considered an unlikely winner here [1, 2].
Evita won on debut and has performed well at higher levels, including a close finish in a 2,000m ParisLongchamp Group 2, but needs further improvement to contend for the top prize [1, 2].
Moments Of Joy, with strong juvenile form, has faltered in 2026, finishing sixth and fourth in Group 3 races at The Curragh and York, respectively [1, 2].
Green Spirit began with four straight wins but lost to Diamond Necklace in a ParisLongchamp Group 1 race and placed third in another 1,600m Group race against the same rival [1, 2].
Pink Panthera, mostly running up to 2,200m and a Listed race winner on a provincial track, is viewed as a contender for placing rather than winning [1, 2].
Inis Mor won a Listed sprint at Goodwood in May despite a weak pace and may place in the French Classic [1, 2].
The French Classic is set to showcase these rising stars with Diamond Necklace aiming to extend her winning streak to five consecutive races.