France
Historic clean sweep for Moore
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
After making sure that Ballydoyle's 1-2 favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) delivered in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Ryan Moore become the first jockey in history to win every English, Irish and French Classic.
This was far from straightforward, with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine pushed all the way to the line by the 35-1 outsider Pink Panthera (Chachnak), who nearly stole it for France under Tony Piccone, but Moore was in his usual unflinching mood to hold on by a short neck. Inis Mor (Galiway) was two lengths away in third.
For all that this represented a highly significant landmark for the jockey supreme, he was typically humble and quick to deflect while giving an insight into the mentality that made all this possible. “I'm very lucky that I ride for Aidan (O'Brien) and Coolmore and they produce these horses and buy these horses,” he said. “I'm delighted to win this and that she won, now I just need to go out and do it again next week.”
Emulating the achievement of her sire in completing a French Classic double, Diamond Necklace also joins Allez France, Zarkava, Divine Proportions and Blue Rose Cen in winning the Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai and this. The winning time of 2:03.778 just missed the 2:03.77 race record of Treve in 2013, when Diamond Necklace's half-sister Chicquita was second.
Aidan O'Brien, who was collecting a seventh Classic in 2026, was overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath. “I'm lost for words! She's an incredible filly, very natural, very nimble and quick and gets the mile and a quarter,” he said. “She's just very easy and very natural.”
“I'm lost for words! She's (Diamond Necklace) an incredible filly, very natural, very nimble and quick and gets the mile and a quarter.” - Aidan O'Brien
“”Ryan gave her an unbelievable ride–she's never run on ground that quick, but he said it was no problem,” the Ballydoyle handler added. “It was an evenly-run race and she does quicken very well, but when she gets there she doesn't do much. We know that she handles soft ground, she's a great traveller and all class, so the sky's the limit.”
There is always talk of the Arc after a French middle-distance Classic and O'Brien was not ruling it out. “It's possible she could return for an Arc trial before,” he said.
“No matter what distance she works over at home, she comes there easily and then waits. We feel there is a good chance she'll stay 2400 metres, but you'll have to be patient with her. She's always been so similar to St Mark's Basilica, even from the first day and he didn't want further than ten furlongs so maybe she'll be the same. We won't rush her anyway–everything is coming naturally to her at the moment and we're in no hurry.”
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Ryan Moore added, “She has an exceptional mind and I always felt she was going to win. I'm still getting to know her–this was only the second time I have ridden her, but she is such a straightforward filly that I feel she only ever does what is necessary. She oozes class throughout a race in everything she does. She is a top-class filly who travels strongly, quickens easily, understands what is asked of her and responds immediately.”
“She (Diamond Necklace) has an exceptional mind and I always felt she was going to win. I'm still getting to know her–this was only the second time I have ridden her.” - Ryan Moore
Ryan Moore | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Like the Prix du Jockey Club hero Constitution River bred in France, Diamond Necklace was watched by Ecurie des Monceaux's Henri Bozo who said, “It is a particularly emotional moment, with this first victory in the Prix de Diane as breeders. We had secured several placings over the years, but had never won it so this success holds a very special meaning for us and is the result of many years of hard work.”
“It is a particularly emotional moment, with this first victory in the Prix de Diane as breeders.” - Henri Bozo
“This victory is the culmination of many years dedicated to this maternal family, which we developed alongside Lady O'Reilly who was deeply attached to this bloodline,” he added. “Today, our thoughts are especially with her, as well as with Patricia Boutin, who is following us from the United States. Beyond the sporting achievement, this success is a reward for the commitment, passion and perseverance of our entire breeding team.”
Henri Bozo | Image courtesy of Jour De Galop
Pedigree: Diamond Necklace's dam Prudenzia (Dansili) has a total of six stakes performers under her auspices at present, with Galileo's globe-trotting MacKinnon Stakes heroine Magic Wand and Montjeu's aforementioned Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita joined by Philomene (Dubawi) who like Chicquita was also runner-up in this Classic. Chicquita is in turn responsible for three stakes performers including Dubawi's Curragh Cup winner Emily Dickinson and American Pharoah's American Oaks runner-up and Irish Oaks third Nicest.
The Listed-winning Prudenzia is a daughter of Fittocks Stud's Platonic (Zafonic) and therefore a half to the Group 3-winning Pacifique (Montjeu), who is the second dam of Night Of Thunder's dual Group-placed 3-year-old filly Skydance and Dubawi's Prix Niel third Parachutiste. This illustrious dynasty includes the Debutante Stakes winner and Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Vespertilio, also by Night Of Thunder, and this stable's Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells).
Prudenzia's record at the Arqana Sales is outstanding, with Chicquita selling for €600,000 (AU$984,000) as a yearling, her Galileo progeny Gulliver's Travels, Sinnamary, Truth and Magic Wand as well as Philomene and Invincible Spirit's Craven's Legend all selling for six-figure sums. Another Galileo, Je Ne Regretterien, was a €950,000 (AU$1.55 million) purchase at the August Sale and Muhaarar's smart stayer Enemy was €420,000 (AU$689,000).
After Diamond Necklace had sold for €1.7 million (AU$2.8 million) at the prestigious Normandy auction in 2024, Prudenzia's filly Marylebone (Night Of Thunder) sold to Amo Racing last August for a sale-topping €3 million (AU$4.92 million).
Japan
Take makes it a cool half-dozen
By Heather Anderson, TDN Europe
Legendary jockey Yutaka Take bettered his own record when winning his sixth G1 Takarazuka Kinen and second aboard Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) at Hanshin on Sunday. The 57-year-old previously claimed the race with Inari One (1989), Meijiro McQueen (1993), Marvelous Sunday (1997), and Deep Impact (2006).
The “Win and You're In” for the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in October featured a full field of 18, and, shortly before the bell, a deluge turned the course from good to firm to yielding. Second in the betting at 29-10 behind 2025 Japanese Derby hero Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black), the Yoshitaka Matsumoto-owned 5-year-old kept a close eye on frontrunner Cosmo Kuranda (Al Ain) from the bell while well off the fence. A touch eager behind the runaway leader, Meisho Tabaru settled in a good rhythm for the backstretch run as the rain continued to come down.
Edging closer past 1600 metres in 1:36.50, the eventual winner collared Cosmo Kuranda at the furlong grounds before fending off the late lunge of Croix Du Nord by a neck for the win. 2024 Japanese Derby victor Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) closed resolutely from well of the pace for third, another 2.5 lengths behind the top pair. G2 Nikkei Sho scorer My Universe (Rey De Oro) was pulled up in the straight. He later died from heart failure, according to the Japanese Racing Association.
“I felt that Meisho Tabaru was in really good form and the strongest today. I think we can head to France with our heads held high.” - Yutaka Take
“When it started raining just before the race, I felt as though the late owner Yoshio Matsumoto had sent it down from heaven,” said Take. “Since races are unpredictable, I stayed flexible and settled in second position, and we were able to race in good rhythm. When Croix du Nord closed in before the wire, I thought, 'Please, not this time!' I felt that Meisho Tabaru was in really good form and the strongest today. I think we can head to France with our heads held high.”
A winner at two and successful in the G3 Mainichi Hai and later the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at three, Meisho Tabaru hit a career high when taking the 2025 edition of this race. Sixth in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) coming back off a break in November, he ran 13th to Museum Mile (Leontes)–ninth here on Sunday–in the G1 Arima Kinen in December. He finished second by a nose in the 2000 metre G1 Osaka Hai to rival Croix Du Nord on April 5 and is one of seven Japanese horses entered in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Pedigree: Dual classic winner Gold Ship was the first horse to win two editions of the Takarazuka Kinen in 2013/2014. His son is the third horse to accomplish that feat after Chrono Genesis (Bago) in 2020/2021. At stud, Gold Ship has 10 stakes winners (nine group scorers). Meisho Tabaru is his most decorated runner, and he is also the sire of G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) heroine Uberleben.
Out of Meisho Tsubakuro (French Deputy) who won at three and four, Meisho Tabaru counts G2 Kyoto Daishoten hero Meisho Kampauk (Grass Wonder) in his family.
