Amusingly displayed a remarkable turn of class when she out‑classed the male contenders 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 in spectacular fashion. Colin Keane, aboard the long‑shot, settled his mount in the early fractions and allowed Am Amusingly to sit just behind the odds‑on favourite, Folsom Blues. Both horses travelled smoothly, each appearing to be in good form.
However, when the finish approached, Joseph O'Brien’s National Stakes winner could not match the late acceleration of Amusingly. The daughter of No Nay Never surged ahead, pulling away with a decisive margin and securing a victory that left the crowd in awe. After the race, Graffard praised the filly, saying, "She beat the filly that finished second in the Marcel Boussac (Data) very easily, so I was hoping I didn't make a mistake." He added that the filly’s speed suggested she might be better suited to races like the Commonwealth Cup rather than a classic Guineas campaign next year.
"I have no idea if she'll go to the Breeders' Cup; I need to speak to the team," Graffard continued. "Today is a big win, so I just want to enjoy that, keep her fresh over the 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, which factored into the decision to target this race. Keane explained the logic behind the move: "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 final half‑furlong over a mile on her last start, so dropping back to seven furlongs made sense, even if it meant taking on colts." He noted that Amusingly appeared far more relaxed on the day, free from the gasping and nervousness she had shown previously. "She settled nicely in the first half of the race, and when she got her chance she showed how quickly she can accelerate," Keane said.
He added that time would tell whether she could stretch out to a Guineas distance, but her raw speed suggested she could handle a mile without issue. 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, never having finished outside the top two in her career, paid tribute to the outstanding Sun Goddess, the only filly to have beaten her on three separate occasions. Ridden confidently by Christophe Soumillon, Green Empress took the lead with a half‑furlong to go and appeared set for an easy win before Data, trained by Christopher Head, launched a late challenge.
O'Brien remarked, "It’s special to have a Group One winner on this day. She’s only ever been beaten by Sun Goddess this season, and she has a superb pedigree – by Saxon Warrior out of a Sea The Stars mare. We see her as a miler who could stretch out to ten furlongs in the future." O'Brien also discussed the possibility of a Breeders' Cup campaign, saying the connections would decide after assessing her performance today. He praised the support of owners and the broader team, noting that delivering top‑level performances at major meetings is the ultimate goal.
"We’re very lucky to have the backing of great people and a diverse group of owners. Performing well on Arc day is fantastic," he added.
The day also featured a historic win for Jack Nicholls, who secured his first Group One victory aboard the supplemented Miss Yechance in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Nicholls, the grandson of legendary sprint trainer David "Dandy" Nicholls and son of former jockey‑turned‑trainer Adrian Nicholls, rode his first top‑level race with composure. In the final furlong, he found himself alongside Ryan Moore on Mission Central, but timed his run perfectly, guiding Miss Yechance to the line ahead of Shiri, who finished second, and Mission Central in third.
Speaking after the race, the 20‑year‑old jockey said, "I’ve never felt anything like this; there are no words to 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. I try to keep her happy and she does the rest for me.
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." Nicholls reflected on his family’s deep roots in sprint racing, noting that the Nicholls name is synonymous with short‑distance success. "My granddad was probably one of the best sprint trainers ever, and my dad has won two Group Ones. It would be weird if I wasn’t riding in sprints. Continent was a very special horse for the family; we even 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, calling him "the best dad in the world," and recalled a recent conversation in which his dad joked that the win would be "the fastest 55 seconds of my life and the weirdest as well." The victory was a morale boost for the Burke yard, which had suffered a setback the previous day when stable star Fallen Angel was lost. Nicholls said, "It’s great for the yard – they had a bad day with Fallen Angel, and perhaps she was looking down and helped us in those last 50 yards.
It’s very special." Overall, the meeting showcased the depth of talent across trainers, owners, and jockeys, with Amusingly’s dominant performance, Green Empress’s hard‑fought win, and Jack Nicholls’ breakthrough all underscoring the excitement of top‑class European racing. The results will shape future campaign plans, from potential Breeders' Cup trips to decisions about distance targets for the promising three‑year‑old fillies. Fans can look forward to more thrilling contests as the season progresses, with the promise of further Group One triumphs on the horizon.