It was like the greats that Blue Rose Cen dominated the 174th edition of the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) (French Oaks), a classic that she won for her Spanish 0wner-breeder, Yeguada Centurion, with a four-length triumph over Never Ending Story on Sunday at Chantilly.
Never Ending Story finished a short head in front of third-place finisher Tasmania in the race that crowns the best filly on that side of the English Channel.
The Yeguada Centurion stable of winning owner Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals was also represented in the race by the fourth-place finisher Wise Girl, stablemate of the winner, who is trained by Christopher Head.
Wise Girl led quickly with Blue Rose Cen handy in behind followed by Pensée du Jour. Lindy and Running Lion joined the leading group while favorite Jannah Rose galloped further back. In the home stretch, the situation settled down fairly quickly since Wise Girl did not slow down, leaving room inside for Blue Rose Cen to pass en route to an easy success under Aurelien Lemaitre. Coming from the depths of the pack, Never Ending Story rallied for second ahead of Tasmania. Wise Girl kept a courageous fourth ahead of Elusive Princess in fifth.
Winner of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at age 2 and the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) (French 1000 Guineas) in May, Blue Rose Cen is currently achieving a career comparable to that of the great Zarkava (2008), Divine Proportions (2005), and Allez France (1973) in achieving the classic double.
Blue Rose Cen is a daughter of Churchill out of the Jeremy mare Queen Blossom, winner of the 2018 Santa Barbara (G3) at Santa Anita and 2016 Park Express (G3) at the Curragh. The mare has been through the sales ring three times: in Ireland, the United States, and then England, where Kentucky-based Taylor Made Sales Agency sold her to Durcan Bloodstock on behalf of Pujals for $146,951 at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Prior to that, she sold for $220,000 to Abbondanza & Medallion Racing at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale, where Denali Stud consigned her. Initially, her breeder, Irish National Stud, sold her for $18,936 at the 2014 Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale.
Time for the 2,100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles) was 2:05.09 on turf rated as good to soft.
Prix de Diane Quotes
Christopher Head (trainer of Blue Rose Cen, 1st): “It's incredible. I have never trained a filly of this quality. I would like to thank the whole team we work with, from the farrier to the veterinarian, including all the staff at the stable and those who manage communication. I'm thrilled to be able to work with each of them and wouldn't trade them for anyone. All this touches me particularly.
Blue Rose Cen is a flawless filly. She has the physique, the engine, the will and the passion to race. The filly was an excellent 2-year-old and she is capable of being as strong as a 3-year-old. She came to this race with a lot of experience and she never took it hard. Every time we ran it, it was unmarked by a previous run. For the rest of the program, we will first see how it fits. We had a plan in place until the Prix de Diane Longines, where she discovered the distance. We will discuss for the rest of the season, knowing that she should stay in training next year.”
Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals (owner of Blue Rose Cen, 1st): “I am delighted. I have a lot of luck and quality broodmares! I discovered racing in Spain with a friend who had a runner. His filly was beaten but I hung on. And my wife suggested I get a racehorse. But I'm a businessman and I can't buy a single horse: I bought 80!”
Aidan O'Brien (Never Ending Story coach, 2nd): “It's the first time Never Ending Story has run such a long distance and she had a great race. She is a good second behind the winner who is really a very good filly. I think she can improve a bit more. So we are very happy. For the future, she could participate in events like the Irish Oaks (G1)… or other competitions, because we already have Savethelastdance for the Irish Oaks.”
Francis-Henri Graffard (Tasmania coach, 3rd): “Her jockey, Tom Marquand, regrets that the filly did not come out of her stall faster. This fact of the race forced her to find herself among the last. Then in the course, Tasmania took the wake of Jannah Rose before diving along the inside rail to finish. It's amazing the speed at which the filly completed her course! Tasmania is not entered in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but there are other great races over 2,400 meters. She should have no trouble doing that distance in the future. However, I'm not sure it will have the same acceleration capability when the tracks are deep. Its owners were looking for black type in a Listed, but it was in the Prix de Diane that they finally got it!”
Christopher Head (trainer of Wise Girl, 4th):“Wise Girl was not a leader. She runs in the lead, much like Big Rock. I am delighted with his performance. She presented herself as a maiden-winning filly and she is fourth in the Diane, which is not bad!”
Jean-Philippe Dubois (trainer of Elusive Princess, 5th): “The Prix de Diane Longines is always a good race. Elusive Princess runs well. We'll see how she comes back from this race to decide her future. »
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