3 minute read
The Christopher Head-trained Blue Rose Cen (16/5 F) stretched her winning streak to five with an impressive performance in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly.
Blue Rose Cen recorded a second French Classic success at Chantilly on Sunday afternoon as she backed up a taking display in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp last month with a facile victory in the Group 1 Prix de Diane.
Christopher Head's five-length Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner was going beyond a mile for the first time but that certainly didn't pose any issues as she stretched clear under hands and heels in the closing stages.
As expected, the pace was steady in the early stages and plenty of those drawn wide were pulling for their heads. However, drawn in stall one, there were no such issues for Blue Rose Cen, who found herself situated in the perfect position down on the rail throughout much of the contest. Stablemate, Wise Girl took them along at a moderate tempo but began to quicken the pace as the field entered the home straight. Jockey Eddy Hardouin seemingly moved his filly off the rail entering the final two furlongs, a move that allowed Blue Rose Cen a dream passage to quicken up smartly against the fence for the same connections.
The daughter of Churchill soon found herself out in front with just over a furlong to run and she lengthened clear in the fashion of a smart filly to ultimately come home a ready four-length winner under Aurelien Lemaitre. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Never Ending Story (16/1) stayed on well having encountered some traffic problems to grab second under Ryan Moore with the Tom Marquand-ridden Tasmania (43/1) finishing a short-head further back in third for Francois-Henri Graffard.
The well-fancied Jannah Rose could never get on terms and ultimately finished a well-held sixth while Running Lion, who was out to gain redemption following her late withdrawal in the Epsom Oaks, trailed the field home in last place having never really settled from a wide draw.
Speaking with Sky Sports Racing following the success, trainer Christopher Head said: "It's a very good day. It's been a very good season. It's a very very very very good day."
Blue Rose Cen, she's just incredible. Just the best filly I've ever trained and I'm very happy to have come across her. She's just brilliant and I'm thankful. She changed my life."
You always think that they are capable of the best because it's pretty much like having new kids every year, but races are races, and you never know what could happen. She's been brilliant all round for the season and I'm very happy to see her win today."
When questioned about the Arc he added: "It's a bit early to talk about it. We need to see how she comes out of this race and then we will see about the next plan."
Paddy Power went 10/1 from 33/1 on the back of that success for this season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.