Baker's dozen remain in French Oaks

Chantilly's Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) on Tuesday was cut to 13 at the five-day

stage, with His Highness The Aga Khan's ROSANARA (Sinndar) and SARAFINA (Refuse

To Bend [Ire]) looking to exert a stranglehold on the 1 5/16-mile classic at

this stage. Both were taken to the track by trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre for

paddock schooling during Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-G1) card and were

joined Tuesday in the list of entries by the maiden stable companions DARIYANA (Medicean)

and VALASYRA (Sinndar).

"Sarafina worked exactly as I wanted with Christophe Lemaire on Les Aigles

(Tuesday) morning," their conditioner told the Racing Post. "I have also

decided to run Rosanara in the race, and she will have a final breeze on Les

Reservoirs (Wednesday) morning. I will decide later about the pacemaker."

Andre Fabre has a sole representative in Khalid Abdullah's DELUXE (Storm Cat)

-- a daughter of Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi) -- who was beaten a half-length by

Sarafina in the May 23 Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) at Longchamp, while Martin

Schwartz's colors are set to be carried by the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained May 2

Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3) scorer ZAGORA (Green Tune).

Only one overseas challenger stood her ground, the May 12 Musidora S.

(Eng-G3) fourth PINK SYMPHONY (Montjeu [Ire]), although trainer Paul Cole is

more likely to run her in Wednesday's Lord Weinstock Memorial S.

Others of note are the April. 22 Prix Penelope (Fr-G3) runner-up A MEDIA LUZ

(Johann Quatz [Fr]) and the May 8 Prix Cleopatre (Fr-G3) third HEAVEN'S VAULT

(Hernando [Fr]). Francois Rohaut is looking at supplementing Cleopatre winner

SANDBAR (Oasis Dream [GB]).

Soft ground is forecast after a predicted week of heavy rainfall.