Wayward Chicquita sparks Arc dreams

Chicquita will be aimed at the Prix Vermeille and possibly the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after surviving a dramatic drift to her left to land the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday night.

Alain de Royer-Dupre’s filly would have been an easy winner at Saint-Cloud in May but for hanging badly before colliding with a hedge and falling.

She was also awkward when second in the Prix de Diane on her last start and gave Johnny Murtagh plenty to think about here in the closing stages, finishing virtually on the stands side. Her drift started at the furlong pole but such was her turn of foot she was still able to prevail in a blanket finish from Venus De Milo, who did have the winner crossing in front of her close home.