Chantilly: Prix de Diane is to be moved back by a week in the calendar
PICTURE: Mark CranhamFrench Oaks date shifted for sponsor Longines
France: The France Galop committee this week gave the go-ahead for the Prix de Diane Longines to be moved back by a week in the calendar to Sunday June 17.
The move, which had been expected, has been made to accommodate the Swiss watchmaker who will be associated with the Diane for a second year.
Longines also have significant sponsorship at the French Open tennis and the traditional date of Sunday June 10 would have clashed with the men's singles final at Roland Garros.
Late spring signals a major racing event almost every Sunday in France, and several other highlights have also been shuffled by one week either forwards or backwards.
The major Group 1 trial for the Diane, the Prix Saint-Alary, drops back a week to remain in sync, on a card which also features the Prix d'Ispahan.
There is also movement at Auteuil for the French equivalents of the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and the Grande Course de Haies, as both are now a week earlier than in 2011.
Key Group 1 Dates in France (Spring 2012)
Sun Apr 29 Longchamp Prix Ganay
Sun May 13 Longchamp Poule d'Essai des Poulains
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Sun May 20 Auteuil Gras Savoie Gd Steeple-Chase de Paris
Sun May 27 Longchamp Prix d'Ispahan
Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary
Sun Jun 3 Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club
Sun Jun 10 Auteuil Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil
Sun Jun 17 Chantilly Prix de Diane Longines
Sun Jun 24 Saint-Cloud Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
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