Amusingly displayed a remarkable level of class when she out‑finished the colts to capture the Qatar Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère at Longchamp in Paris. Trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard caused a stir by moving his Juddmonte‑owned filly from the Prix Marcel Boussac, where she had been competing against her own sex, to a mixed‑sex contest. The gamble paid off handsomely, confirming the confidence the team had in her ability. Colin Keane, aboard the filly, settled in at the rear of the field in the early stages, allowing the odds‑on favourite Folsom Blues to set a solid pace.
Both horses travelled with a sense of purpose, but as the race entered its final furlongs Amusingly unleashed a decisive turn of foot that left her rivals scrambling. Joseph O'Brien’s National Stakes winner could not match the finishing speed of the French‑trained mare, and Amusingly, a daughter of the sprinter No Nay Never, pulled away with authority to claim a convincing victory. After the race Graffard explained his reasoning: “She beat the filly that finished second in the Marcel Boussac (Data) very easily, so I was relieved I hadn’t made a mistake.” He added that Amusingly possesses a rare combination of speed and stamina, prompting him to suggest to Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon that the filly might be better suited to the Commonwealth Cup next season rather than a classic Guineas campaign. “I’m still discussing the Breeders’ Cup with the team,” Graffard said, “but today’s win is a huge boost and we’ll enjoy the rest of the winter with a truly wonderful filly in our ranks.” The Jean‑Luc Lagardère is run over seven furlongs, a full furlong shorter than the Marcel Boussac.
Keane offered insight into the strategic switch: “The decision to run here rather than the Boussac was a collective one. The filly had shown a tendency to fade in the final half‑furlong of a mile race, so dropping back to seven gave her a better chance to use her natural speed.” He praised her temperament, noting that she was calmer and more focused on the day, which allowed her to execute the race plan without the agitation she had displayed previously. Keane also hinted at future possibilities: “Time will tell if she becomes a Guineas filly. She certainly has the turn of foot, but I see no reason she can’t handle a mile when the time is right.” In the same meeting, Joseph O'Brien celebrated another Group One success with Green Empress, who edged out Data to win the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.
Green Empress has never finished outside the top two in her career and has been a consistent rival to the outstanding Sun Goddess, who remains the only filly to have beaten her on three occasions. Riding confidently, Christophe Soumillon sent Green Empress into the lead with a half‑furlong to go, and despite a late challenge from Christopher Head’s Data, she held on to secure the win.
O'Brien praised his charge: “It’s special to have a Group One winner on such a day. She’s been improving all season and has only ever been beaten by Sun Goddess. Her pedigree is superb—by Saxon Warrior out of a Sea The Stars mare—and we see her as a miler who could stretch to ten furlongs in the future.” He added that discussions are underway about a possible trip to the Breeders’ Cup in America, but the final decision will be made after evaluating her performance today.
The victory added to O'Brien’s impressive tally of Group One wins this year. He acknowledged the support of a diverse ownership group and emphasized the importance of delivering peak performances at major meetings: “We’re fortunate to have such backing, and it’s all about executing on the big days.
Winning on Arc day is a fantastic achievement.” The day also featured a historic win for young jockey Jack Nicholls, who rode the supplemented Miss Yechance to victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Nicholls, the grandson of legendary trainer David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls and son of former jockey‑turned‑trainer Adrian Nicholls, seized his first Group One triumph at just 20 years old. In the final furlong he found himself side‑by‑side with Ryan Moore on Mission Central, but timed his move perfectly, guiding Miss Yechance across the line ahead of Shiri, who took second, and Mission Central in third. Reflecting on the experience, Nicholls said, “I’ve never felt anything like this; words can’t describe it.
I can’t take much credit—she does everything herself, and I’m just lucky to be on her back. I try to keep her happy and she does the rest.” He expressed gratitude to the owners and trainer Karl Burke for trusting a young rider with a top‑level mount.
The family connection added emotional weight: “The Nicholls name is synonymous with sprinting. My grandfather was one of the best sprint trainers ever, and my dad has two Group Ones.
It would have been odd not to be riding in a sprint race.” Nicholls also paid tribute to his father, describing him as “the best dad in the world” and recalling a conversation where his father predicted the race would be “the fastest 55 seconds of my life and the weirdest as well.” The win was a morale boost for the Burke yard, which had suffered the loss of stable star Fallen Angel earlier in the week. Nicholls noted, “It’s great for the yard.
After a tough day with Fallen Angel, seeing Miss Yechance cross the line helped lift everyone’s spirits. It feels very special.” Overall, the meeting at Longchamp showcased the depth of talent across trainers, owners, and jockeys, with Amusingly’s dominant performance, Green Empress’s resilience, and Jack Nicholls’ breakthrough all underscoring the excitement that Group One racing can deliver.