Diamond Necklace suffered her first loss when Aventure reminded everyone of her elite abilities in the Summe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville. The filly, a daughter of St. Mark's Basilica and trained by Aidan O'Brien, had entered the race with the expectation of adding another French triumph to her résumé after previously conquering the Prix Marcel Boussac, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane during an unbeaten six‑start campaign.
Yet the seasoned veteran, a Christophe Ferland‑trained older mare, proved too experienced, extending her own record of Group One victories with a win that followed last year's success in the Prix Vermeille. In third place, the Charlie Johnston‑trained Timeforshowcasing, piloted by Jack Mitchell, rounded out the podium, delivering a respectable performance in a tightly contested finish. After the race, Pierre‑Yves Bureau, the racing manager for the Wertheimer brothers, praised Aventure, noting the strategic misstep of running her over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud earlier in the season. He said, "We were delighted when she captured the Prix Corrida, but the longer distance proved challenging.
This filly is a true champion, and while we eventually hope to retire her to the broodmare band, we intend to enjoy her racing career for as long as possible." Aventure's victory over O'Brien's star performer earned her a 20/1 starting price for the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as quoted by Paddy Power. Although she finished a respectable second to Bluestocking in the Arc, her connections have decided against a third attempt at Europe's most prestigious middle‑distance contest. Instead, the five‑year‑old will be aimed at the 10‑furlong Prix de l'Opéra on Arc day, with a potential trip to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on the horizon. Bureau explained the change in plans: "It's unusual, but this filly is gaining speed with age, and ten furlongs now seems to be her optimum distance.
She has been meticulously prepared for the Opéra, and if everything goes well we may consider a Breeders' Cup campaign, but we will take it one race at a time." The strategic shift underscores the owners' desire to maximize Aventure's value both on the track and later as a broodmare, ensuring she competes at distances that highlight her turn of foot and stamina without overextending her. In other news, Senorita Bonita displayed a devastating acceleration to claim victory in the Summe Prix Morny.
The 900,000‑guinea filly, purchased at the April Craven Breeze‑Up sale and owned by Simon and Ed Crisford, arrived on the Normandy coast after a win in Newmarket's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, a triumph that had been bolstered by the Lowther Stakes winner Libertango earlier in the week. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Senorita Bonita was held towards the rear for much of the race, with Clive Cox's Royal Ascot winner Orthodox ahead and Aidan O'Brien's front‑running Carry The Flag setting the early pace. As the race entered its final third, Murphy asked her to accelerate.
The response was immediate: the filly not only erased the deficit but surged past the early leader to secure a decisive win. Speaking after the race, Simon Crisford highlighted her remarkable turn of foot: "She was a bit slow out of the gates and settled behind the bridle early, but the fractions were quick and the race suited the closers. At the halfway point I thought we might have a mountain to climb, but her acceleration at the furlong pole was unmistakable, and she finished strongly." This victory marks the second Group One success for the father‑son training partnership after Vandeek's win in 2023, and continues a recent trend of fillies excelling in the event, following Venetian Sun's triumph for Karl Burke the previous year.
Looking ahead, Senorita Bonita will target the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, where bookmakers have offered her 5/2 odds. The race could see a rematch with Libertango and also feature recent York winner Sun Goddess. Crisford expressed optimism: "All roads lead to the Cheveley Park now. It was a deep, deep renewal, and her performance was truly pleasing.
Any Group One win is a fantastic achievement, and we are thrilled for the entire team, especially Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid, who own the filly." Both Aventure and Senorita Bonita exemplify the depth of talent in European racing this season. Aventure's transition from a dominant sprinter‑miler to a versatile ten‑furlong performer demonstrates how careful management can extend a horse's prime years, while Senorita Bonita's explosive finish showcases the importance of timing and tactical patience in high‑class sprint races. Their connections are now plotting future campaigns that balance the pursuit of further Group One glory with long‑term breeding considerations, ensuring that the legacies of these exceptional fillies will endure both on the track and in the breeding shed.
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