Valyra (centre) came out on top having been added to the Prix de Diane
PICTURE: Scoop-Dyga, BY PAUL EACOTT 2:54 PM 17 JUN 2012
Report: France, Sunday
Chantilly: Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1) 1m2½f, 3yo fillies
THE decision to supplement Valyra for the French Oaks reaped dividends as she provided the Aga Khan with a record seventh win in the Classic.
The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly was the outsider of the leading owner’s three runners in the race with British bookmakers at 25-1 but she had few difficulties accounting for her rivals after sweeping to the front under Johnny Murtagh in the Chantilly home straight.
Having experienced a troublesome passage on Imperial Monarch in the Prix du Jockey Club at the same track two weeks ago, Joseph O’Brien made sure there was no repeat of that as he sent Kissed into an immediate lead.
She remained at the head of affairs until joined by favouriteBeauty Parlour as they raced down the side of the straight.
As Kissed started to toil, Beauty Parlour, who was trying to complete a Classic double having bagged the Pouliches earlier in the season, found herself clear of the pack.
However, Murtagh had bided his time on the daughter of Azamour and her greater stamina came into play in the closing stages as she got up to beat the favourite with another outsider,Rjwa, finishing third.
The winning jockey said: “The race worked brilliantly, I just travelled round into the straight after being a little bit outpaced.
“When she came on the bridle in the straight I was always going to win. I was confident from two and a half furlongs down I was always going to get there.
“When she got to the front she just pricked her ears a little. I think she’s a filly on the improve and she could get even better.”
After the race, O’Brien reported that his mount had finished lame and his mother Annemarie later tweeted that Kissed had been retired after just her third race.
Valyra was given a quote of 14-1 for the Arc by Paddy Power after her win with the second eased to that price (from 12-1).
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