The Irish filly Diamond Necklace gave her rivals absolutely no chance in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches! She completed the kind of double only true champions achieve at Paris Longchamp: the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at two and the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at three.

To build her victory, the filly trained in Ireland by master trainer Aidan O’Brien and owned by the Coolmore partners — one of the world’s leading commercial breeding operations — raced patiently on the inside, close to the pace. Turning into the home straight, she dived into the open stretch: exactly the same tactic used just minutes earlier by Rayif to win the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Irish jockey Ryan Moore therefore took inspiration from the ride produced by his French counterpart Mickaël Barzalona! A smart move, as on very soft ground it is best not to cover unnecessary extra ground.

We had in mind either the Prix de Diane or the Irish Oaks, depending on what the partners wanted to do. What can I say? We’re simply very lucky to have her.”

The French colt Rayif, trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard, won Sunday’s Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp, the European championship over 1,600 metres. And he did it in true champion style!

Taking advantage of his favourable draw in stall 1, Rayif broke well and his jockey Mickaël Barzalona, retained rider for the Aga Khan Studs horses, wisely settled him in third position behind the British runner Hankelow and the French colt Wootton Centurion, who set a solid pace.

Turning into the home straight, Mickaël Barzalona made perfect use of the open stretch — the inside lane detached from the rail that allows horses to find room along the inside without covering additional ground on the outside. Thanks to this flawless tactical ride, Rayif ended up being the horse who travelled the fewest metres in the race.

Trainer mentioned The St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot will be his next target.”

Photo: Scoop Dyga