France: Undefeated Diamond Necklace back for more in French Oaks
Trips to France are defining the career of the 3-year-old filly Diamond Necklace, who is part of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s powerful stable in Ireland.
Last October, Diamond Necklace won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, France’s leading race for 2-year-old fillies. Diamond Necklace won the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp on May 10 in her first start this year.
Diamond Necklace is back in France for Sunday’s Group 1 French Oaks at Chantilly Racecourse where she will be an odds-on favorite to extend her unbeaten streak to five races.
Diamond Necklace won the French 1000 Guineas at a mile by three lengths as the 4-5 favorite. Ridden by Ryan Moore, she pulled away from 14 rivals in the final furlong.
The manner of the win suggests that Diamond Necklace can handle a longer race in the French Oaks at 1 5/16 miles. The distance is a test of stamina, considering Chantilly has an uphill finish. Moore rides Diamond Necklace, who races for the Coolmore syndicate and Georg Von Opel.
Diamond Necklace has a pedigree to suggest the distance will not be an issue. She is by St Mark’s Basilica, who won the 2021 French Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Chantilly, and is out of Prudenzia, a minor stakes winner at 1 3/8 miles at Longchamp in 2008.
Diamond Necklace is a half-sister to Magic Wand, who won the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot in Britain in 2018 and the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Australia in 2019.
In the $1.15 million French Oaks, Diamond Necklace starts from post 3 in a field of 11 that includes the British shippers Evolutionist, Felicitas, and Lilt.
Evolutionist, trained by Karl Burke, was second in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at a mile at Newmarket Racecourse on May 3 after racing on the lead.
Felicitas was beaten for the first time in her third start when second to Legacy Link by three-quarters of a length in the Group 2 Musidora Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at York Racecourse in Britain on May 13. Legacy Link was second in the Group 1 English Oaks at Epsom on June 5.
Felicitas, trained by Ed Walker, won an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles at Sandown Park near London in April.
Lilt, unbeaten in two starts for trainer William Haggas, has massive potential, but faces a class test on Sunday.
Lilt won a maiden race at seven furlongs at Doncaster last October. In her lone start this year, in the minor Fillies’ Stakes at a mile at York on May 15, Lilt closed with a strong rally in the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
Of the domestic runners, the Kentucky-bred Green Spirit will start in her longest race after finishing third in the French 1000 Guineas. She won four times at 2, at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile.
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