Amusingly displayed a touch of elegance as she outclassed the colts to claim the Qatar Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère at Paris‑Longchamp. 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, to face the boys. The gamble paid off handsomely.
Colin Keane, aboard the filly, settled towards the rear in the early stages, tracking the hot favourite Folsome Blues as both horses settled into a steady rhythm. When the final furlongs arrived, Joseph O'Brien's National Stakes winner could not match Amusingly's closing acceleration. The daughter of No Nay Never surged ahead, pulling clear in a spectacular finish.
After the race Graffard said, "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 she's more of a Commonwealth Cup type than a Guineas prospect for next year.
I’m not sure about a Breeders' Cup run yet – I need to talk to the team. Today is a big win, so I just want to enjoy it, keep her well this winter and look forward to next season. What she did today was wonderful." The Lagardère is run over seven furlongs, a full furlong shorter than the Boussac.
Keane explained the decision to target this race rather than the Boussac: "It was a collective choice. In the Boussac she faded in the last half‑furlong, so dropping back to seven made sense. She’s a classy filly with plenty of pace, and the previous run showed she used up her energy too early.
The shorter trip suited her better, even though we were up against colts." He added, "She settled much better today, wasn’t as agitated, and executed the race plan perfectly in the first half. When she hit the turn she showed how quickly she can accelerate.
Time will tell if she can stay a mile for the Guineas – she has the speed, and I see no reason she can’t handle the distance." In the same meeting, Joseph O'Brien celebrated another Group One triumph when Green Empress edged out Data to win the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac. The filly, never finished outside the top two in her career, paid tribute to the outstanding Sun Goddess, the only horse to have beaten her on three occasions.
Ridden with confidence by Christophe Soumillon, Green Empress took the lead with a half‑furlong to go and appeared set for an easy victory until Christopher Head's Data rallied, forcing a close finish. O'Brien remarked, "It’s special to have a Group One winner on such a day.
She’s been improving all season and has only 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 later on. We'll decide after today whether she heads to the Breeders' Cup in America or waits until next year." O'Brien highlighted the broader success of his stable, noting, "We’re fortunate to have the support of great owners and a diverse group of horses.
Performing at major meetings is our goal, and a big win on Arc day is fantastic." The day also featured a family‑rich story as Jack Nicholls secured his first Group One victory aboard the supplemented Miss Yechance in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. The 20‑year‑old rider is the grandson of David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, who won the same race in 2002 with Continent and earned a reputation as a sprint‑training legend.
His father Adrian, a former jockey turned trainer, also boasts a sprint pedigree. 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 finished second, and Mission Central in third. "I’ve never felt anything like this; words can’t describe it," he said.
"I can’t take much credit – she does everything herself and I’m just the lucky lad on the seat. I try to keep her happy and she does the rest." Reflecting on his family’s sprinting legacy, Nicholls added, "The Nicholls name is synonymous with sprinters.
My grandfather was one of the best sprint trainers ever, and my dad has two Group Ones. It would be odd not to be riding sprints.
Continent was a special horse for the family; we even had him in the field at retirement. If I could pick any Group One, it would be the Abbaye. My dad is the best dad in the world – he told me it would be the fastest 55 seconds of my life and the weirdest as well." The victory was also a morale boost for the Burke yard, which had suffered the loss of stable star Fallen Angel the previous Saturday.
Nicholls noted, "It’s great for the yard – they had a tough day with Fallen Angel. Maybe she was looking down and gave us that extra push in the last 50 yards. It’s very special." Overall, the meeting showcased the strategic decisions trainers make when placing promising fillies against colts, the importance of selecting the right distance, and the emotional narratives that surround family‑run stables. Amusingly’s triumph reinforces her status as a versatile, high‑class performer capable of handling both sprint and middle‑distance challenges, while Green Empress and Miss Yechance added depth to an already impressive day of Group One action.
The results will undoubtedly influence future campaign plans, with potential trips to the Breeders' Cup and classic mile targets on the horizon for these talented fillies.