Amusingly displayed a remarkable turn of class when she out‑classed the colts to capture the Qatar Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère at Longchamp in Paris. Trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard made a bold call 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 in spectacular fashion.
Colin Keane, aboard the filly, settled her at the rear of the field in the early stages while the race favourite, Folsom Blues, set a strong tempo. Both horses travelled smoothly, but when the finish approached Amusingly unleashed a powerful closing burst that left the competition struggling to keep up. The daughter of No Nay Never surged ahead and secured a decisive victory, prompting applause from the crowd and admiration from the connections. Graffard was quick to comment on the performance: "She beat the filly that finished second in the Marcel Boussac (Data) very easily, so I was hoping I didn't make a mistake.
She shows a lot of speed, so I told Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s racing manager, that she looks more like a Commonwealth Cup prospect than a Guineas filly for next year. I’m still unsure about a Breeders' Cup run – I need to discuss that with the team.
Today is a big win, so I just want to enjoy it, give her a good winter, and look forward to next year. What she did today was wonderful." The Lagardère is run over seven furlongs, a furlong shorter than the Boussac, which influenced the decision to drop her back in distance.
Keane explained the choice: "The decision to run this race rather than the Boussac was a collective one. In her last mile‑long outing she faded in the final half‑furlong. She is a filly with plenty of class and speed; she fought the bridle in the previous race, so we thought a return to seven furlongs would suit her better, even if it meant taking on the colts." He added that Amusingly seemed more relaxed on the day: "She was calmer, not as gassy, and executed everything perfectly in the first half of the race. When she hit that part of the course we knew she would run a good race and she proved how quickly she can accelerate.
Time will tell if she becomes a Guineas filly – she has the pace, but I see no reason she can’t handle a mile." Another highlight of the meeting was Green Empress, who gave Joseph O'Brien a narrow victory over Data in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, also at Longchamp. The filly, never finished outside the first two positions in her career, paid tribute to the outstanding Sun Goddess, the only filly to have beaten her on three occasions.
Ridden confidently by Christophe Soumillon, Green Empress took the lead with half a furlong to go and appeared set for an easy win until Data, under Christopher Head, rallied fiercely in the closing stages. O'Brien praised his charge: "It’s special to have a Group One winner on this day.
She’s been improving all season and has only ever been beaten by Sun Goddess. She has a superb pedigree – 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 after today and discuss with the owners whether to aim for the Breeders' Cup in America or wait until next year." The victory added to O'Brien’s impressive tally of Group One successes this season.
He reflected on the support he receives: "We’re fortunate to have great owners and a variety of partners. Our goal is to perform and execute at the biggest meetings. It’s fantastic to secure a major win on Arc day." Jack Nicholls continued his family’s sprinting legacy by winning his first Group One aboard the supplemented Miss Yechance in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines.
The 20‑year‑old rider, grandson of David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls – a legendary sprint trainer who won the same race in 2002 with Continent – and son of former jockey‑turned‑trainer Adrian Nicholls, seized the moment in a breakthrough season. Riding in his debut top‑level race, Nicholls found himself alongside Ryan Moore on Mission Central in the final furlong. He timed his run perfectly, guiding Miss Yechance to the line ahead of Shiri, who claimed second, while Mission Central finished third.
Nicholls described the experience: "I’ve never felt anything like it; words can’t describe it. I can’t take much credit – she does everything herself and I’m just the lucky lad who gets to sit on her back.
I try to keep her happy and she does the rest. I never expected a Group One opportunity, and I’ll be forever grateful to the owners and Karl Burke for trusting me with this ride." He reflected on his family’s connection to sprint racing: "The Nicholls name is synonymous with sprinters. My grandfather was probably one of the best sprint trainers ever, and my dad has two Group One wins, so it would feel odd not to be riding sprints.
Continent was a special horse for the family; we even had him in the field during his retirement. If I could choose any Group One, it would be the Abbaye. My dad is the best dad in the world – he told me the race would be the fastest 55 seconds of my life and the weirdest as well." The win also provided a morale boost for the Burke stable, which had suffered the loss of their star, Fallen Angel, the previous Saturday.
Nicholls noted: "It’s great for the yard, especially after a tough day with Fallen Angel. She might have been looking down and gave us a little extra push in the last 50 yards. It’s very special." Overall, the day at Longchamp showcased the depth of talent across trainers, jockeys, and owners, with Amusingly’s classy triumph, Green Empress’s narrow victory, and Jack Nicholls’ family‑steeped Group One success providing memorable moments for racing fans worldwide.