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Group One Review: Prix de Diane.

Aidan O'Brien recorded his third French classic success of the season and first ever victory in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) on Sunday when Joan Of Arc proved strongest at the finish...

The three-year-old daughter of Galileo broke evenly from the stalls and showed good early pace where jockey Ioritz Mendizabal managed to secure another good position (just as two weeks previous in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) onboard St Mark's Basilica). He settled the winner in second throughout, one off the inside running rail.  

As the field negotiated the bend just after the Chateau at the 1000m mark, the group were bunched together with only ten lengths covering first to last. The eventual winner was travelling nicely, a length behind pace setter, Sibila Spain (who finished a close fourth).  

When the field entered the home straight many appeared to have chances. Ioritz Mendizabal was the first one off the bridle to keep the only international runner in with a good chance to outstay her rivals. The filly took a while to respond as Sibila Spain was still a one length leader with 200m left to run. It was not until the 100m marker when the Aidan O'Brien trained filly managed to claim the lead and pass Christopher Head's very gallant Frankel filly. The Irish raider managed to score by a cosy three quarters of a length on the line.  

Many caught the eye in the closing stages with multiple horses running on late including the two who managed to steal placings in the final strides - Philomene (runner up) and Burgarita (third). Around six lengths covered the first ten home.  

Joan of Arc now holds a 50% winning strike rate with three victories from six career starts. She raced only once at two when runner up on debut at Dundalk (IRE) on the all-weather in November last year. She progressed when returning for this campaign to win a twenty runner 1400m maiden at The Curragh (IRE). Six weeks ago, she continued the improvement to score in the G3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial (1600m) at Leopardstown (IRE). An excellent second in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas (1600m) followed at The Curragh on heavy going four weeks ago which was a great stepping stone to Classic race success this time around.  

This victory provided Galileo with his 91st individual Group One winner. The talent shown at Chantilly was no surprise with Joan Of Arc a sister to three elite-level winners (Marvellous, Gleneagles and Happily). This triumph was also the fourth top grade success for the dam, a Group Two winner, You'resothrilling. Galileo stands for a private fee at Coolmore (Ireland).  

Aidan O'Brien has entered the filly in multiple fascinating events throughout the coming weeks including the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m) at The Curragh this coming Sunday which seems unlikely. Other entries include the G1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket in July, the G1 Irish Oaks (2400m) and the G1 Sussex Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood (UK). A longer distance is not out of the equation with the trainer open-minded at the prospect of a possible target being the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in early October at Longchamp. We may not have seen the best of Joan of Arc and as the season continues, she is likely to keep progressing.