Diamond Necklace suffered her first defeat when Aventure reminded everyone of her elite abilities in the Sumbe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville. The filly, a product of Aidan O'Brien’s St Mark’s Basilica stable, had entered the French contest with high expectations after an unbeaten six‑race campaign that included victories in the Prix Marcel Boussac, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane.
Yet the seasoned veteran trained by Christophe Ferland proved too experienced, adding another Group One win to his résumé following last year’s triumph in the Prix Vermeille. In the finishing order, the Charlie Johnston‑trained Timeforshowcasing, piloted by Jack Mitchell, claimed a respectable third place, underscoring the depth of talent in the field. Pierre‑Yves Bureau, the racing manager for the Wertheimer brothers, expressed his satisfaction, noting that the mare had previously delighted them with a win in the Prix Corrida.
He admitted that the decision to contest the mile‑and‑a‑half Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud had been a mistake, but praised the filly’s performance, calling her “a champion” and hinting at future plans to retire her as a broodmare after a few more seasons on the track. Aventure, who had finished second to Bluestocking in the 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, entered the Deauville race as a 20/1 outsider according to Paddy Power. Her victory over O’Brien’s star performer, ridden by Maxime Guyon, was a statement of intent. However, the connections have ruled out a third attempt at Europe’s richest middle‑distance prize.
Instead, the five‑year‑old will be aimed at the 10‑furlong Prix de l’Opéra on Arc day, with a possible excursion to Keeneland later in the season. Bureau explained the strategic shift, saying, “It’s unusual, but the filly is gaining speed with age, and ten furlongs now suits her perfectly. She’s been prepared meticulously for this race.” He added that the next step after the Opéra could be a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but emphasized a measured, race‑by‑race approach. In related news, Senorita Bonita displayed a devastating turn of foot to claim the Sumbe Prix Morny.
The 900,000‑guinea filly, bought at the April Craven Breeze‑Up sale and owned by Simon and Ed Crisford, arrived on the Normandy coast eager to follow up her Newmarket Duchess of Cambridge Stakes victory, which had been boosted by a recent Lowther Stakes win from Libertango. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Senorita Bonita was held back early, trailing behind Clive Cox’s Royal Ascot winner Orthodox and Aidan O’Brien’s front‑running Carry The Flag.
As the race entered its final third, Murphy asked for acceleration. The filly responded instantly, closing the gap and then pulling away decisively from the pace‑setter to secure a commanding win. Simon Crisford praised his charge, noting, “She showed a great turn of foot. The early fractions were quick, but she finished superbly and galloped out strongly.” He admitted the filly was a bit slow out of the gates and lingered behind early, but the race set‑up favored closers, and Senorita Bonita proved the best of them.
“At halfway I thought we might have a mountain to climb, but her finishing kick was evident at the furlong pole,” he added. This victory marked the second Group One success for the father‑and‑son training team, following Vandeek’s win in 2023, and continued the strong record of fillies in the race after Venetian Sun’s triumph for Karl Burke a year earlier. The Victorious Racing‑owned filly now turns her attention to the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, where she is priced at 5/2. The race could see a rematch with Libertango and a showdown against recent York winner Sun Goddess.
Crisford summed up the campaign, saying, “All roads lead to the Cheveley Park now. It was a deep renewal and a really pleasing effort. Any Group One win is fantastic, and we’re delighted. It’s a testament to our staff and everyone involved, and a great victory for Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid.” Both Aventure and Senorita Bonita illustrate the depth of talent in European thoroughbred racing this season.
While Aventure’s unbeaten streak was snapped, she remains a top‑class performer with a clear plan to target ten‑furlong races and possibly an American campaign later in the year. Senorita Bonita, on the other hand, is building momentum, using her explosive acceleration to dominate sprint distances and positioning herself as a leading contender for upcoming Group One events.
Their stories highlight the strategic decisions trainers and owners make—balancing distance preferences, race timing, and long‑term breeding goals—to maximize a horse’s career while chasing prestigious titles across the continent.