Aventure ends Diamond Necklace's unbeaten record

Diamond Necklace tasted defeat for the first time as Aventure served up a reminder of her top-class credentials in the Sumbe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville. <p>Aidan O'Brien's daughter of St Mark's Basilica was expected to dazzle once again in France, as she had done when landing the Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai Des Pouliches and Prix de Diane on her travels during what was an unbeaten six-race career to date.</p><p>However, she had no answer to the experience of her Christophe Ferland-trained elder, who added to last year's Group One strike in the Prix Vermeille.</p><p>In a close-up third was the Charlie Johnston-trained Timeforshowcasing, who ran a big race in the hands of Jack Mitchell.</p><p>Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers, said: "We're very happy and when she won the Prix Corrida earlier this year we were very happy but then made a mistake by running over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.</p><p>"There was a strong field of fillies including Diamond Necklace, but what our mare did is just wonderful, she is such a champion. We will be very happy to have her as a broodmare one day, but we will enjoy her racing for the moment!"</p><p>Second to Bluestocking in the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Aventure earned a quote of 20/1 for this year's renewal by Paddy Power following her triumph over O'Brien's star performer in the hands of Maxime Guyon.</p><p>However, there will be no third attempt at Europe's richest middle-distance prize for the five-year-old who will instead remain at 10 furlongs for the Prix de l'Opera post the main event on Arc day before a possible trip to Keeneland.</p><p>Bureau added: "It's quite unusual, but this filly is getting more speed with age and 10 furlongs is her perfect trip now. She has been really well prepared for this race.</p><p>"The plan is to run her in the Prix de l'Opera and then if everything goes well we might take her to the Breeders' Cup for the Filly & Mare Turf, but we will take it step-by-step and one race at a time. The next step will be the Prix de l'Opera."</p><widget id="2"></widget><h3>Senorita Bonita proves jet-propelled in Prix Morny</h3><p>Senorita Bonita demonstrated her devastating turn of foot to scorch to Sumbe Prix Morny glory.</p><p>The 900,000 guineas top lot from April's Craven Breeze-Up sale, Simon and Ed Crisford's filly arrived on the Normandy coast looking to follow up her victory in Newmarket's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, a win that received a timely boost by Lowther Stakes scorer Libertango earlier this week.</p><p>Held up towards the rear by Oisin Murphy, with Clive Cox's Royal Ascot winner Orthodox ahead, the daughter of Starspangledbanner had plenty of ground to make up on Aidan O'Brien's front-running Carry The Flag entering the final third of the contest.</p><p>However, once the champion jockey stepped on the accelerator the response was instant, as not only did Senorita Bonita rapidly eat away at the deficit but then surged readily clear of the long-time pace-setter for a thoroughly impressive victory.</p><p>Simon Crisford said: "She's shown a great turn of front and obviously they set some very good fractions up front but she finished off super well - she galloped out strongly.</p><p>"She was a little bit slow out of the gates and behind the bridle early, but they were going quick and the race set up for the closers and she was the best of the closers.</p> <widget id="1"></widget><p>"At halfway I briefly thought we might have a mountain to climb here, but she's got such a good turn of foot that at the furlong pole you could see she was going to come home strong."</p><p>It was the father and son training team's second victory in the Group One race after Vandeek in 2023, while it continues the fine record of fillies in the contest following on from Venetian Sun's triumph for Karl Burke 12 months ago.</p><p>The Victorious Racing-owned Senorita Bonita will now go in search of further top honours in Newmarket's Cheveley Park Stakes and was made 5/2 by bookmakers for a race where she could meet former foe Libertango once again, as well as another recent York winner, Sun Goddess.</p><p>"All roads lead to the Cheveley Park now at the end of September and that was a fantastic performance," continued Crisford.</p><p>"It was a deep, deep renewal and it was a really, really pleasing effort and she's looked really impressive there.</p><p>"Any Group One is fantastic to win and we are all just delighted. It's a great testament to the staff back at home and everyone involved and it's great to win for Shaikh Nasser (bin Hamed Al Khalifa) and Shaikh Khalid (bin Hamed Al Khalifa)."</p>