Confidential mission accomplished

British raider Confidential Lady produced a power-packed finish to lift the Prix Diane Hermes (French Oaks) at Chantilly.

Mark Prescott’s filly got a dream run under Seb Sanders, taking up a position on the rails before the gaps opened at just the right time turning for home.

Although Confidential Lady looked in trouble around two furlongs out, she found an extra effort when switched to the outside and eased away from Germance, with Irish runner Queen Cleopatra back in third.

Confidential Lady, a fine second to Speciosa in the Stan James 1000 Guineas, was bouncing back after a hugely disappointing show in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh last time out.

Sanders dropped her in early on as Keladora, pacemaker for the favourite Germance, set a testing early gallop, with Daltaya also taking a prominent position.

Turning for home Sanders had to start making an effort as Queen Cleopatra and Germance began to assert.

She looked unlikely to catch them until finding an extra gear to storm down the outside and present Prescott with a memorable winner.

Kieren Fallon looked set to snatch second aboard the Aidan O’Brien-trained Queen Cleopatra but Germance just pipped her for the runner-up spot.

Prescott was registering his first Classic success and he was delighted to see the Singspiel filly come out on top.

“It’s a relief I think after 37 years of trying!” quipped the Newmarket maestro, who is more famed for his legendary handicap coups.

“I have had four runners in Classics and three have placed and this one has won. It’s great. I think it’s a marvellous day for (owners) Cheveley Park Stud, who are wonderful supporters of racing in England and support us as well.

“We were lucky with the draw, we were lucky knowing that there would be a strong pace and we were very lucky that the filly was tough enough to take a race like this only two weeks after a slightly disappointing run at the Curragh,” he told At The Races.

“I always felt she would get a mile and a quarter and I have always doubted she would get a mile and a half.”

Prescott is unsure of future plans for the filly, adding: “She deserves a bit of a breather now.”