Europe
'A Proper Racing Machine': Diamond Necklace smooth for Moore in the Nassau
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
In one of the easiest wins of the week, Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) made light of Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
Having joined a select group to complete the French trio of Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane, the 4-6 favourite showed she is far from finished tackling the older fillies and mares for the first time in this 10-furlong feature. Always cruising under Ryan Moore, the unbeaten €1.7 million (AU$2,800,000) 2024 Arqana Deauville August topper swooped on last year's Prix de l'Opera winner Friendly Soul (Kingman) approaching the furlong pole en route to a 2 3/4-length success. See The Fire (Sea The Stars) could get no closer than five lengths further back in third as she placed in the race for the third year.
Moore was equalling the record of six wins in this. “She was very comfortable and that was the best she's felt,” he said of Aidan O'Brien's seventh Nassau and 14th Group 1 winner of 2026.
“She's obviously thriving and improving and it was very easy really. She was a little bit idle in front and is a proper racing machine. She travels with loads of pace and enthusiasm and has a real good turn of foot like her father.”
“She (Diamond Necklace) was very comfortable and that was the best she's felt.” - Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien is thinking of staying at this trip for the time being. “She has options now and it's a case of whether she stays at a mile and a quarter and goes to the fillies' race in France or to Leopardstown or an Arc trial,” he said.
“She has all of those options open to her. She goes on soft ground as well as fast ground, is a great cruiser and progressing well.”
“She is very high-quality, you can see the way she travels through her races,” he added. “Even the Arc is a possible, but I don't know how far we ask her to go and it will depend on everything–the next run will tell us where she is going to go after that. She loves nice ground and a fast track, so she has lots of options. Constitution River is going to York and the lads are never afraid to run against one another, but we will get the next one out of the way and see where we are at.”
Pedigree Notes: Diamond Necklace's dam Prudenzia (Dansili) has a total of six Stakes performers at present, with Galileo's globe-trotting MacKinnon Stakes heroine Magic Wand and Montjeu's Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Montjeu} joined by the Group 3 winner Philomene (Dubawi), who like Chicquita was runner-up in the Prix de Diane. 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 Group performer 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$980,000) 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$1,600,000) purchase at the August Sale and Muhaarar's smart stayer Enemy was €420,000 (AU$690,000).
After Diamond Necklace had sold for €1.7million (AU$2,800,000) at the prestigious Normandy auction in 2024, Prudenzia's filly Marylebone by Vespertilio and Skydance's sire Night Of Thunder sold to Amo Racing last August for a sale-topping €3million (AU$4,900,000). Her son of Siyouni heads back to that Sale where he comes under the hammer August 16th.
McMonagle steers Enceladus to Gordon success
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Lining up for Thursday's G3 Gordon Stakes as the one potential improver, Enceladus (Sea The Stars) justified market support to continue the unstoppable momentum of Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle and provide another Glorious Goodwood winner in the famed Niarchos silks.
Mastering Royal Ascot's always-competitive King George V Handicap last month at the expense of the impressive subsequent scorer Al Azd (Dubawi), the 6-4 favourite travelled smoothly throughout and had first run on Geryon (Lope De Vega) approaching the final furlong. At the line, the homebred son of the Grade I performer Martini Glass (Kitalpha) had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over his compatriot, who was racing under a three-pound penalty, with the 1,000 Guineas third Venetian Lace (Masar) 4 1/4 lengths away in third.
“He's a lovely, big, straightforward horse who's done nothing but improve with each run and is sharpening up with experience,” McMonagle said.
“I think he's going to be a very nice horse going forward. He's still a big baby and when he's getting there, he's just doing enough.
“He's (Enceladus) a lovely, big, straightforward horse who's done nothing but improve with each run and is sharpening up with experience.” - Dylan Browne McMonagle
“It was a straightforward race, we went nice and even all the way and he picked up good when I needed to go,” he added. “He's a lovely fluent mover, he handles that ground well and I think he's got a bit of class–he's a horse to look forward to and one to keep an eye on.”
This is one of the key St Leger pointers, with Jan Brueghel the latest to do the double two years ago and the winning rider thinks Enceladus has the right material for the Doncaster Classic. “I'm sure the Leger distance will be no problem for him, but he has plenty of gears for a mile and a half, as he develops, it will be no problem going up in trip which will open up options,” he said.
Pedigree Notes: Enceladus's aforementioned dam Martini Glass, who was successful in the Azeri Stakes and Royal Delta Stakes and was placed in the Delaware Handicap, the Spinster and La Troienne, was a US$500,000 (AU$710,000) purchase by the operation at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale. Sold for just €30,000 (AU$49,000) at Goffs November two years ago, her 2-year-old filly Star Martini (Starspangledbanner) was a €65,000 (AU$107,000) purchase by Medaki at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up, while she also has a yearling colt by State Of Rest.
Man's Best Friend pounces late for Richmond triumph
By Sean Cronin, TDN Europe
Aidan O'Brien nominee Man's Best Friend (No Nay Never) shed maiden status at Naas just last week and overcame traffic problems to pounce late and supply the trainer with a third renewal of Thursday's G2 Markel Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.
“The last day at Naas was only his second run and he is a baby of a horse,” said O'Brien, whose previous winners of the contest were Pyrus (Mr. Prospector) in 2000 and Land Force (No Nay Never) in 2018.
“We thought bringing him here today was going to do him good–win, lose or draw–and I am delighted. Ryan (Moore) said he had nowhere to go through the whole race, but he liked him. He said he thought he travelled well, he felt classy and that he would get further. All options are open. He looks a Middle Park type of horse or a Gimcrack horse and he could turn into a Dewhurst horse. He could be a nice colt.”
Moore added, “It is the first time I have sat on him and Wayne (Lordan) said he liked him when he won at Naas last week. He is a fast horse with a beautiful pedigree and he would have been an unlucky loser. Luckily, he got out just in time and can only get better. He is a strong horse, with a lot of speed and has a good future.”
“He (Man's Best Fried) is a strong horse, with a lot of speed and has a good future.” - Ryan Moore
Coolmore's MV Magnier continued, “He is a No Nay Never, who is a very good stallion and if you want to get a good 2-year-old or an Ascot winner, even at three as well, he is flying at the moment. It will be interesting to see what Ryan and Aidan say, but he was very impressive today and won snug on the line.”
Positioned off a strong pace in seventh through halfway, the 11-2 chance was interrupted in his run when making headway into contention approaching the final furlong and quickened smartly once in the open to deny Adaay Of Scarlett (Mehmas) by a length in the dying strides.
MV Magnier | Image supplied
Night In Vegas (Lucky Vega) fared best of the remainder and finished 1 1/2 lengths further adrift in third.
Pedigree Notes: Man's Best Friend, a G1 Phoenix Stakes and G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry, is the latest of six foals and one of five scorers out of G3 Musidora Stakes third Pandora (Galileo), who is a full-sister to the dual stakes-placed Allegio and Listed River Eden Stakes third Isabella.
Isabella is the dam of the G3 La Jolla Handicap victor and G2 Del Mar Derby runner-up Maltese Falcon (Caravaggio), while the winner is a half-brother to G3 Stanerra Stakes third Perfect Your Craft (Mastercraftsman).
