Nebraska Tornado completed a big weekend for Khalid Abdullah with a surprise win in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday.

With accolades from Empire Maker's Belmont Stakes triumph still ringing in his ears, the Saudi prince saw Nebraska Tornado extend her unbeaten streak to three in the Group 1 French Oaks with a three-quarter-length victory over British invader Time Ahead. It was another length back to Time Ahead's Andre Fabre-trained stablemate Musical Chimes, while the 6-5 favorite Fidelite was eighth of 10.

Kris Kin rewarded an inspired public gamble, which saw his odds plunge from 12-1 to 6-1 in the hours before the race, when he won the 224th running of the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

An American-bred son of Kris S who was making only his fourth career start, Kris Kin landed the $1.4 million first prize from the purse of $2.4 million by coming home a length clear of the longtime leader, The Great Gatsby. Alamshar was a head back in third while the previously unbeaten 3-1 favorite, Refuse to Bend, finished 13th in the 20-horse field.

Andrew Balding's father, Ian, trained Mill Reef, Glint of Gold, and Diamond Shoal for one of America's premier horsemen, Paul Mellon. At Epsom on Friday, Andrew Balding produced a big race winner for another prominent American owner, Will Farish.

Casual Look, owned by Farish, a Kentucky breeder and American ambassador to Great Britain, won the $690,000 English Oaks, holding on by a neck from a very unlucky Yesterday.

Andre Fabre will saddle a strong one-two punch at Chantilly in Sunday's $592,000 Prix de Diane, the 1 5/16-mile fillies' classic better known as the French Oaks.

In Musical Chimes, Fabre has the winner of the one-mile Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, or French 1000 Guineas. An In Excess filly, she defeated subsequent Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner Maiden Tower, staying on strongly after having been blocked in midstretch.

NEW YORK - Dalakhani's victory in the French Derby at Chantilly last Sunday marked him as the most impressive 3-year-old performer of this classic season on either side of the Atlantic or the Pacific.

A half-brother to Daylami, Dalakhani took over from his pacesetter Diyapour at the quarter-pole and held safe Group 2 winner Super Celebre. At the line, Dalakhani had two lengths to spare on his rival, whom he had beaten previously by only three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 Prix Lupin.

Irish eyes should be smiling after the Epsom Derby on Saturday as the three favorites in the $2.4 million, Group 1 classic, Refuse to Bend, Alamshar and Brian Boru, all hail from the Emerald Isle.

Dermot Weld will saddle the likely favorite in 2000 Guineas winner Refuse to Bend. A son of Sadler's Wells, Refuse to Bend was always going to prefer something longer than the mile of the Guineas, but he may just lack the stamina for Epsom's testing 1 1/2 miles.

Ownership powerhouses Godolphin and Coolmore square off once again at Epsom on Friday in the 225th running of the Group 1, $675,000 English Oaks.

Hi Dubai, a full sister to six-time Group 1 or Grade 1 winner Fantastic Light, can give Godolphin its fourth Oaks victory at the expense of Yesterday, the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Gary Stevens will return to Royal Ascot to ride Morluc in the Golden Jubilee Stakes on June 21.

Stevens, who had two winners at the Royal meeting in 1999 when he rode first-string for trainer Michael Stoute for much of the year, will arrive in England on June 12. The trip is something of a working holiday, as Stevens will first travel to Doncaster in Yorkshire with his wife, Nicola, for a visit with her family. Stevens will then be at Ascot for the first day of the five-day Royal meeting on Tuesday, June 17.

Dalakhani extended his unbeaten career record to six - three wins this year and three last - with a two-length victory over Super Celebre in the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby). Also Sunday, Vespone won the 1 1/8-mile Prix Jean Prat by three lengths, to give his up-and-coming rider, Christophe Lemaire, his first Group 1 victory.

Dalakhani, the outstanding half-brother to Daylami, puts his unbeaten record on the line in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) at Chantilly over 1 1/2 miles. Christophe Soumillon rides Dalakhani, who takes on just six others, and will almost certainly start as an odds-on favorite.

Although the race may be light on numbers, it is high on quality, though realistically Dalakhani should win. The only reason for doubt is the good to firm going, a surface the colt has never raced on.