In entrance of greater than 21,000 spectators gathered Sunday for an impressive day of sport and class at Chantilly Racecourse, the overwhelming favourite for the Prix de Diane (G1) (French Oaks), Diamond Necklace, didn’t have a simple activity. She needed to battle laborious within the last 300 meters of the race to overhaul the French outsider Pink Panthera to prevail.
Upon leaving the beginning gate, Wayne Lordan urged his mount, Moments of Joy, ahead to take the lead and set up a quick tempo – a tempo supposed to naturally choose the favorites and assist her stablemate, Diamond Necklace, to win.
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However, the stunning Esna , ranging from the surface put up 11 challenged for the lead, additional growing the already brisk tempo for the early a part of the race. Meanwhile, Pink Panthera, from Marseille, who had a sluggish begin, struggled to maintain up, forcing her rider, Tony Piccone, to information her for the primary 500 meters.
Esna finally allowed Moments of Joy to set the tempo alone. And the English filly Inis Mortook benefit, settling into a major place proper behind the 2 main fillies.
Entering the house straight, Inis Mor let the 2 leaders fade and headed straight for the end line, hugging the rail. She seemed poised for victory, however hazard got here from the surface. First from Diamond Necklace, whose jockey Ryan Moore had chosen to drag down the middle of the monitor to provide her a transparent run, even at the price of dropping floor. Then from Pink Panthera, additionally on the surface, who moved from final place and located herself in just some strides alongside Diamond Necklace.
As Inis Mor slowed barely, abandoning her connections’ dream of victory, Pink Panthera took the lead from Diamond Necklace… however the Irish mare, silencing any doubts about her stamina, surged forward once more down the middle and secured the win within the last strides.
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In this version run at a loopy tempo, with extraordinarily excessive fractional occasions particularly within the first few hundred meters, Diamond Necklace completed the journey in a quick 2:03.78, lacking the stakes file held by champion Trevesince 2013 by 1/a centesimal of a second.
However, Diamond Necklace enters racing historical past for an additional motive: by turning into solely the fifth filly to realize the very tough treble of the Marcel Boussac (G1) Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas), and Diane. The earlier winners of the triple are Allez France, Divine Proportions, Zarkava and Blue Rose Cen.
Moore mentioned Diamond Necklace, who’s unbeaten in 5 profession begins, has an distinctive thoughts.
“She got off to a great start,” he mentioned. “She was always exactly where I needed her to be. We had just a small issue on the turn when two rivals came up on us and I had to move forward a little earlier than planned. I think the second one briefly overtook her, but when I really asked her for an effort for the first time, she started to move aside slightly and wait a bit. But throughout the race, I had a feeling she was going to win. I’m still getting to know her; this is only the second time I’ve ridden her. But she’s such an easy filly to ride that I feel she just does what’s necessary. She oozes class throughout the entire race.”
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Diamond Necklace was bred in Ireland by Écurie des Monceaux [Henri Bozo] and Skymarc Farm. On the Arqana sales ring in Deauville, she was bought as a yearling by M. V. Magnier for a record sum of 1.7 million euros ($1,840,153) and is campaigned by Coolmore partners of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith in partnership with Westerberg.
On the statistics side, Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien won his second Prix de Diane after Joan of Arc’s victory in 2021.
Having already won the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) (French Derby) two weeks ago with Constitution River, O’Brien also secured his second Prix de Diane/Jockey Club double (after his victory with Joan of Arc and St Mark’s Basilica in 2021). It’s worth noting that St Mark’s Basilica is the sire of Diamond Necklace.
O’Brien was elated with the filly’s win.
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“This victory belongs to everyone: to Michael and Doreen Tabor, John and Sue Magnier, and everyone else who makes it possible,” he mentioned. “We always thought she had tremendous class. She was unbeaten last year. Ryan gave her a magnificent ride in the One Thousand Guineas this year, just like today. She’s easy to train. She’s very much like her sire, St Mark’s Basilica. She’s easy, very kind, with lots of natural talent. Ryan was very strong, very clever. The race was a bit hectic, but he felt her perfectly. It’s possible she’ll return to run in a Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trial.
“For now, we’re simply going to take our time along with her. She’s very straightforward to coach and does not want a variety of work. We will not rush issues. Everything goes naturally for her for the time being. We will attempt to preserve the identical program, however we’re in no hurry to see her race once more.”
The French Oaks is already O’Brien’s seventh spring basic (out of a doable 10) between France, England, and Ireland. This 12 months he has gained each Irish Guineas (1000 and 2000 Guineas), the English 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club, and the Prix de Diane. A file.
This story was initially printed by Paulick Report on Jun 14, 2026, the place it first appeared within the News part. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.