Diamond Necklace and Puerto Rico produce quickfire double for O'Brien
Diamond Necklace and Christophe Soumillon win for the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Pic: Healy Racing
Diamond Necklace and Puerto Rico, both ridden by Christophe Soumillon, delivered a quickfire double for Aidan O'Brien at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
The former dazzled under Soumillon to take the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac. The unbeaten two-year-old, who is by St Mark's Basilica, was the 11-10 favourite in a field of nine as she aimed to maintain her flawless record when stepped up to Group One level.
Under a patient ride she did so with little fuss, travelling in mid-division until the home turn before mounting a challenge and quickly taking up the lead to triumph comfortably from Green Spirit.
O'Brien said: "We thought this filly was a bit babyish to come here, but Christophe rode her in Leopardstown and said we should let her come and then leave her alone after that for the year.
"I would imagine we'll put her away now and I'd say she'll probably start with a Guineas preparation, as we do with them all, and then take it from there - she's not short of speed.
"She's improving and the St Mark's Basilica horses have been doing that - every week for the last two months they've been getting better. He didn't win his Group race until the Dewhurst, which is still two weeks away, and his offspring are obviously very like him.
"She's a lovely filly and Christophe gave her a lovely ride."
The winning rider, who did not even have to reach for his whip, added: "She's amazing, I was very confident with her. I think she was the best ride of my weekend because last time she gave me a great sensation.
"She was so relaxed going down to the start, so professional and I had the perfect run when I asked her to quicken, she just picked up so easily and I didn't have to ask her too much, hands and heels only.
"I think for next year, she will be something great."
Soumillon produced a front-running masterclass aboard Puerto Rico to claim a cosy victory in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
The colt broke his maiden in winning the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time on his first try at seven furlongs and made an effortless switch to the highest level in the French capital.
Ridden with supreme confidence, the son of Wootton Bassett travelled beautifully in front and when asked to kick on in the straight, he pulled away from Nighttime in style, with Rayif back in third.
O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with this horse, when we stepped up to seven furlongs in Doncaster he really improved and Christophe gave him a beautiful ride (today). With Ryan (Moore) off, we're lucky Christophe doesn't have a retainer - he's an unbelievably special rider.
"This horse is like Wootton Bassett, and Camille Pissarro (last year's Lagardere winner) was the same - big, strong, black horses with loads of speed.
"Christophe said he's a very quick horse who is going to be a miler, but probably won't go any further than a mile.
"Camille obviously won the French Derby, whether this horse will get a mile and a quarter we're not sure, but we didn't think Camille would get a mile and a quarter and he got it in the French Derby."
More immediately, Puerto Rico could head for America, with his trainer adding: "The lads were thinking of the Breeders' Cup, they asked him (Soumillon) about the ground and he said it (faster ground) would be no problem.
"He's a fast horse and I'd say by the way Christophe was talking he definitely could be one for the Juvenile Turf."
Soumillon said: "It's such a lucky moment for me and we are missing Ryan. A weekend like this, you can't dream about it, so I'm thinking about him. I spoke to him yesterday and he told me a lot about all of these horses, including Puerto Rico - he felt the ground would be a big help for him.
"Since he jumped the gates so well I just took him to the front and he was really relaxed. He was hanging out for a while, but when I took him to the rail in the straight he picked up so good I felt nobody would be able to follow him."
