Amusingly displayed a striking blend of elegance and speed as she out‑classed the colts to capture the Qatar Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère at Longchamp in Paris. Trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard caused a stir when he opted to move his Juddmonte‑owned filly from the Prix Marcel Boussac, a race restricted to fillies, into a mixed‑sex contest. The gamble paid off handsomely, confirming that the decision was more than justified.
Colin Keane, aboard the filly, settled in at the back of the field during the early stages, tracking the hot favourite Folsum Blues. Both horses travelled smoothly, but when the finishing stretch arrived, the National Stakes victor under Joseph O'Brien could not match Amusingly's explosive closing burst. The daughter of No Nay Never surged ahead, pulling away in a display of power that left the crowd in awe.
After the race, Graffard explained his confidence: "She beat the filly that finished second in the Marcel Boussac (Data) with ease, so I was relieved that I hadn't made a mistake. She possesses tremendous speed, and I told Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's racing manager, that she looks more like a Commonwealth Cup prospect than a classic‑season Guineas filly for next year. I haven't decided yet if she'll target the Breeders' Cup – I still need to discuss that with the team.
Today is a big win, and I just want to enjoy it, give her a good winter, and look forward to what she can achieve next season. What she did today was wonderful." The Lagardère is run over seven furlongs, a full furlong shorter than the Boussac. Keane offered his perspective on the tactical shift: "Choosing this race over the Boussac was a collective decision. In her last mile‑long outing she faded in the final half‑furlong, so dropping back to seven made sense.
She is a filly with class and a lot of pace; she fought hard on the bridle in her previous run and didn't get the chance to unleash her full speed. That influenced our choice to bring her back to a shorter trip, even though it meant facing colts." He continued, "She was much more relaxed today, not as tight or gassy, and she executed the first half of the race perfectly. When she hit that part, we knew she would deliver a strong performance, and she proved how quickly she can accelerate.
Time will tell if she develops into a Guineas‑type filly, but she certainly has the speed for a mile." In the same meeting, Joseph O'Brien celebrated another Group One victory as Green Empress edged out Data to win the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, also at Longchamp. Green Empress has never finished outside the top two in her career and has given the outstanding Sun Goddess a rare compliment – she is the only filly to have beaten Sun Goddess on three separate occasions. Christophe Soumillon rode Green Empress with confidence, taking the lead with a half‑furlong to go. She appeared set for an easy win until Christopher Head's Data rallied, forcing a hard‑fought finish.
O'Brien reflected on the achievement: "Having a Group One winner on this day is special for us, and she has been improving steadily – the only horse to beat her all season has been Sun Goddess. She boasts an excellent pedigree, being by Saxon Warrior out of a Sea The Stars mare, and we see her as a miler who could stretch out to ten furlongs in the future.
We'll assess her performance today and discuss with the owners whether to aim for the Breeders' Cup in America or wait until next year." O'Brien also highlighted the broader success of his stable this year, noting the importance of strong owner relationships and the ability to deliver at major meetings: "We're very fortunate to have the backing of great owners and a diverse stable. For us, it's about performing and executing on the biggest stages.
It's fantastic to secure a major winner on Arc day." Overall, Amusingly's triumph underscores the strategic acumen of her connections, the filly's innate talent, and the excitement that mixed‑sex Group One races can generate. Her victory, coupled with Green Empress's win, adds further depth to a stellar season for Juddmonte and the O'Brien operation, setting the stage for intriguing decisions about future campaigns, potential trips to America, and the pursuit of classic glory in the coming year.