Darjina prevails at Longchamp

Darjina established herself as very probably the best miler in Europe on Sunday, as she gave older colts a sound beating in the $550,000 Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Settled nicely in third by Christophe Soumillon, she collared the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes winner Ramonti at the eighth pole and drew clear for a two-length victory at 7-2. Two-time European champion and 8-5 favorite George Washington was up for third, a length behind Ramonti, with Linngari fading to fourth, another length behind.

The winning time for Darjina, a 3-year-old daughter of Zamindar owned by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, was 1:36.80 on good ground.

Darjina added to Group 1 victories in the French 1000 Guineas versus her own sex and age, and the Prix d'Astarte against older fillies and mares. But now that she has defeated the best older male milers, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre will send her back against her own sex, most likely in a step up to 1 1/4 miles for the Prix de l'Opera on Arc Day, Oct. 7.

Ramonti and the Aidan O'Brien-trained George Washington, meanwhile, are both slated for the one-mile Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Sept. 29, while Linngari, who like Darjina is trained by Royer-Dupre, will go next in the one-mile Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Oct. 6.