Diamond Necklace lived up to her billing when extending her unbeaten record with a dominant display in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
Having rounded off a perfect juvenile campaign with victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp, Aidan O’Brien’s filly has returned to France to secure back-to-back Classic wins this year, in the French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks.
She was the 4-6 favourite to make it six from six as she faced her elders for the first time and while Friendly Soul did her best to shake her off, Ryan Moore always looked ultra-confident in the saddle aboard Diamond Necklace and she pulled two and three-quarter lengths clear with the minimum of fuss.
An impressed Moore said: “That’s the best she’s felt, she’s improving with her racing. Aidan said she was up in her weight a bit today so she’s obviously thriving.
“She’s classy, it was very easy really. She travelled smoothly and quickened up well, she’s a little bit idle in front still, but she’s a proper racing machine.
“She gives you a classy feel, every time I’ve ridden her she’s travelled with loads of pace, loads of enthusiasm and she has a turn of foot; that’s what her father (St Mark’s Basilica) had, a real good turn of foot and that’s what’s evident with her.”
O’Brien was delighted to see Diamond Necklace enhance her unbeaten record and said: “She’s lovely and she’s progressing and she was heavier today, but Rachel (Richardson, work rider) was confident that was just strength she was building rather than just being heavy and it was the way she went through the line.
“There’s a lot of people around her who help her and she’s a lovely filly. This was a mile and a quarter against older fillies and we didn’t know what was going to happen. We put in a lot of pace as we didn’t want a Mickey Mouse race and she has options now.
“You can see her quality the way she travels through a race and Ryan was hoping they would lead him longer and he just had to go on as her stride was getting broken. She is a great cruiser and she has a lot of quality and is progressing great so I’m over the moon.”
Diamond Necklace was shortened to 8-1 from 14s for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by Paddy Power, but O’Brien is yet to commit on stretching her stamina any further than the 10 furlongs, with the star filly holding a multitude of options for later in the season.
He added: “Constitution River is the boss and everyone has to fall into line behind him. At the moment he is going to York and we’re looking forward to that.
“She could stay at a mile and a quarter and go to the race at Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes), or France for an Arc trial, she has all those races open to her and she does handle soft ground as well as she handles fast ground.
“The Arc is possibility and she could be a Breeders’ Cup filly, it will depend how far we ask her to go. Her next run will tell us where she is going to go and she has a long stride on her and loves nice ground and a fast track, she has a lot of options.”
Friendly Soul has endured her fair share of drama since returning from injury this year, being the horse who put a foot in a hole at Haydock before a luckless run in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“She’s run a fine race against a top class three-year-old who is unbeaten,” said Thady Gosden, who trains the five-year-old alongside father John.
“It was a very good effort and we will now in consultation with George and Julia (Strawbridge, owners) look at the programme ahead in which there are some good opportunities for older fillies.”
Enceladus impresses in Gordon – but Leger run not set in stone
Joseph O’Brien is keen to keep his options open with Enceladus following his authoritative victory in the Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.
The Sea The Stars colt has looked much improved since being stepped up in trip this season, with a comeback win at Cork followed by Royal Ascot success in the King George V Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained pair of Desert Hero (2023) and Merchant (2025) won the same Ascot handicap in recent years before landing this Group Three prize and after being sent off a well-backed 6-4 favourite to follow suit, Enceladus finished strongly under Dylan Browne McMonagle, keeping Geryon at bay by a length and a quarter.
Classic sponsors Betfred make Enceladus a 10-1 shot from 25-1 for the Leger, a race which saw O’Brien break his British Classic duck as a trainer with Galileo Chrome six years ago – but the trainer warned he is not certain to head for Doncaster in September.
O’Brien was at Galway rather than Goodwood, from where he told Press Association: “I’m delighted, it was a nice ride from Dylan. It was a really nice performance and he’s a progressive, improving colt.
“It was a big step up in class and it’s a hard thing to do, but he’s going the right way and I’m delighted to have a horse of his potential for Maria and the Niarchos team.”
On a Leger bid, he added: “It is one of the more obvious options, but I don’t know if we’ll rush him past a mile and a half either. Let’s see how he pulls up and let the dust settle and we’ll lock in his next target after that.”
McMonagle said: “He’s a lovely, big, straightforward horse. He’s done nothing but improve and each run he’s getting better.
“I think he’s going to be a very nice horse going forward and I do think he’s up to that level (Group Twos and Group Ones) with a bit of time.
“As you can see he’s still a big baby – when he’s getting there he’s just doing enough, but he was a good winner.
“He handles that ground well and I think he’s got a bit of class – he’s a horse to look forward to and one to keep an eye on.”
Colin Keane said of the runner-up: “I thought for a few strides that we were going to get to Dylan’s horse (Enceladus) but he picked up and went away again.
“I’d say the winner is smart but we’re smart as well, he’s just a bit of a work in progress. He probably didn’t (see it out as well as the winner), but I do think in time he will.
“He’s a little hard on himself, he wears earplugs to help him relax so he’s a work in progress but a horse with a big future hopefully.”
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