Amusingly displayed unmistakable class when she outclassed 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, a race restricted to fillies, into a mixed‑sex contest, and the gamble paid off handsomely.
Colin Keane, aboard the filly, settled in the early stages, tracking the odds‑on favourite Folsom Blues as both horses travelled smoothly under the bright July sun. When the finishing straight arrived, Joseph O'Brien’s National Stakes winner could not match Amusingly's late acceleration. The daughter of No Nay Never surged ahead, pulling away with a decisive margin and securing a spectacular win that left the crowd cheering.
After the race, Graffard explained his confidence: "She beat the filly that finished second in the Marcel Boussac (Data) very easily, so I was hoping I hadn't made a mistake." He added that the filly’s speed suggested she might be better suited to races like the Commonwealth Cup rather than a Guineas campaign next season. "I have no idea if she'll go to the Breeders' Cup; I need to discuss that with the team," he said. "Today is a big win, so I just want to enjoy it, keep her fresh over the winter, and look forward to next year. What she has done today is wonderful." The Lagardère is run over seven furlongs, a furlong shorter than the Boussac, a factor that influenced the decision to enter Amusingly against colts.
Keane reflected on the choice: "I think the decision to run in this race rather than the Boussac was a combination of everyone’s input. She had struggled to finish the last half‑furlong in a mile race, so dropping back to seven made sense.
She is a filly with a lot of class and a lot of pace; she used a lot of energy before being run out of it last time, so the shorter distance was the right call, even though we were taking on the colts." He continued, noting how the filly seemed more relaxed on the day: "She was fresher, not as gassy, and did everything right in the first half of the race. When she hit that part, we knew she’d run a good race and she showed how well she can quicken." Keane added that time would tell whether she can handle a Guineas distance, but he sees no reason she couldn’t stretch out to a mile. In the same meeting, Joseph O'Brien celebrated another Group One triumph with Green Empress, who 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 paid tribute to the brilliant Sun Goddess, 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, only to be challenged by Christopher Head’s Data, forcing a hard‑fought finish. O'Brien praised his charge: "It’s special to have a Group One winner on this day; she’s been progressive 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 eventually try ten furlongs." He said the connections would decide later whether to target the Breeders' Cup in America or wait for next year. The day added another Group One to O'Brien’s impressive tally, and he acknowledged the support of owners and the importance of delivering at major meetings: "We’re very lucky to have great people behind us and a variety of owners.
For us it’s about performing and executing at big meetings. It’s fantastic to have a big winner on Arc day." Jack Nicholls also upheld 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, the grandson of David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls – a legendary sprint trainer who won the same race in 2002 with Continent – seized his chance in a breakthrough season. Riding alongside Ryan Moore on Mission Central in the final furlong, Nicholls timed his move perfectly, guiding the Karl Burke‑trained filly to the line. Shiri finished second, with Mission Central close behind.
Nicholls described the emotion of the victory: "I’ve never felt anything like it; there are no words. I can’t take much credit – she does everything herself and I’m just the lucky lad who gets to sit on her.
I try to keep her happy and she does the rest for me. I didn’t think I’d get a Group One ride, and I’ll be forever grateful to the owners and Karl for trusting me." He reflected on the family connection: "The Nicholls name is synonymous with sprinters. My granddad was probably one of the best sprint trainers ever, and my dad won two Group Ones, so it would be odd if I wasn’t riding sprints.
Continent was a special horse for the family; we had him in the field in retirement. If I could pick any Group One, it would have been the Abbaye." He also paid tribute to his father: "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 was a morale boost for the Burke yard, which had suffered the loss of stable star Fallen Angel the previous Saturday. Nicholls added, "It’s great for the yard; they had a bad day yesterday with Fallen Angel. She might have been looking down and helped us in that last 50 yards.
It’s very special."