La Cressonniere wins controversial French Oaks at Chantilly
La Cressonniere won Sunday’s $1.12 million French Oaks at Chantilly Racecourse north of Paris, giving trainer Jean-Claude Rouget a remarkable weekend with 3-year-old fillies in Europe. On Friday, at Royal Ascot in England, the Rouget-trained Qemah won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.
La Cressonniere won her second Group 1 races of the spring in the French Oaks, which is formally known as the Prix de Diane. She won the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville on May 15.
La Cressonniere was the 14-5 favorite in the French Oaks, which was run at 1 5/16 miles. Ridden by Cristian DeMuro, La Cressonniere won the French Oaks by a half-length over 26-1 Left Hand.
The race was not without controversy.
With less than a quarter-mile remaining, Armande clipped heels with Highlands Queen and unseated jockey Pierre Charles-Boudot. Volta and Azaelia, the eventual third- and fourth-place finishers, were troubled in the incident, but recovered. Highlands Queen, a 17-1 outsider, finished eighth, but was disqualified and placed last for the incident.
William Buick, the English-based jockey who rode Highlands Queen, was suspended 30 days for the incident – 15 days for causing interference and 15 days for being offensive to officials during a hearing. The suspension is scheduled to begin on July 3, barring an appeal.
La Cressonniere, by Le Havre, is unbeaten in seven starts, all in France, for owner Ecurie Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand.