French Oaks Under Italy-US Raid

Bietolini's Zia Agnese brings cross-Atlantic flavour to Group 1 Prix de Diane in Chantilly

- Michael Lee

With horse racing becoming increasingly a big global village, Zia Agnese adds yet another international flavour to the €1,000,000 (S$1.47 million) Group 1 Prix de Diane (2,100m) at Chantilly this Sunday on June 15.

The name of this daughter of Irish stallion Romanised is distinctively Italian, but she also has strong links from the other side of the Atlantic.

Meaning "Auntie Agnes" in Italian, Zia Agnese pays tribute to one of the co-owners' aunt.

Gina d'Amato is a Florida world-renowned oncologist who owns and breeds horses in both the US and France. She was passed down the racing bug from her father John, a long-time horse owner.

John's sister is the aunt affectionately named "Zia Agnese" in the family.

D'Amato shares the three-year-old filly with Italian-born Richard Marini, who is now a landscape entrepreneur based in Florida.

Unsurprisingly, the duo have entrusted their pride and joy in the hands of an Italian trainer, Gianluca Bietolini, who moved from Rome to Maisons-Laffitte in Paris in 2013.

The only true French connection comes through the reins—home-grown jockey Ronan Thomas.