Avenir Certain swoops late to complete French classic double

Avenir Certain completed a French Classic double when swooping wide and late in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly yesterday.

In what looked an open but high-class renewal of the French Oaks, Jean-Claude Rouget’s unbeaten filly was considered a leading player after her impressive victory in the Guineas at Longchamp five weeks earlier.

With the Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner Miss France failing to find room and the highly-touted Shamkala not picking up as anticipated, Gregory Benoist flew past the field in the closing stages ahead of surprise package grey Amour A Papa.