Immediately after the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1), Princess Zahra knew where she wanted to go next with her impressive winner Rayif.
"I have an idea, but of course I need to check with Francis (Graffard)," she said, respecting the man who has masterminded a golden spring for the famous green silks with red epaulettes.
However, the sheer excitement of winning a Classic with her homebred caused a momentary headrush, and she whispered "Royal Ascot."
The idea of Rayif, the Aga Khan team's first Poulains winner this century, meeting the brutish Bow Echo in Berkshire next month should cause a similar degree of excitement for racing fans ahead of the St James's Palace Stakes (G1).
Mickael Barzalona tracked the same Sheikh Mohammed Obaid silks worn by Billy Loughnane at Newmarket, this time on the Karl Burke-trained Hankelow, and when he finally delivered his challenge there was only ever going to be one winner. Komorebi was a fast-finishing second with Hankelow third.
Rayif's half-sister Rayevka won the Prix de Saint-Georges (G3), a 5-furlong sprint, earlier on the card, and Rayif won the 1-mile event with speed more than stamina. Despite the rain-softened ground they didn't think he would like, and the lack of a prep run, he won well.
A slow early pace and a smart ride from Barzalona meant the Sea The Moon colt was well positioned to take advantage, but boy did he do so.
What a spring it has been for Princess Zahra and the Aga Khan Studs. Calandagan won the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T), Daryz won the Prix Ganay (G1), their last six runners had all won. Rayif has now added a Classic.
"They're all running well and these silks seem to be walking on water at the moment," said Graffard. "It's just wonderful and I hope it can last because it's a long season ahead."
On future plans, the trainer's thoughts and sentiments were almost perfectly in sync with his owner's.
"We'll discuss it with Princess Zahra, but I would have thought we'll go to the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot—I don't really want to step him up in trip," he said.
"We were lucky to have a good draw and Mickael was able to ride him close to the pace, and he's a colt who always gets to a high cruising speed quickly. He had a great trip and was in the perfect spot to launch his attack. It was a wonderful victory."
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Diamond Necklace Superior in French One Thousand Guineas
Diamond Necklace may have been a prohibitive favorite to follow up her dominant display at Longchamp last October but, even at odds of 4-5, there was a sense of wonder at just how emphatically she stamped her authority on the field.
Perhaps the only greater surprise is that Aidan O'Brien was winning the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) for only a second time, 25 years on from the success of Rose Gypsy and Mick Kinane.
Ryan Moore was never likely to overcomplicate things from a kind draw in stall three and hugged the rail in the second rank, safe in the knowledge the 'Open Stretch' cutaway rail would give him an extra option when he chose to launch his attack.
Ultimately, Diamond Necklace's superiority was such that it would have taken some serious traffic to have halted her progress. While The Last Dance came out of the pack to give chase, the margin of 3 lengths was the least the winner deserved.
A first-crop daughter of Coolmore's dual French Classic winner St Mark's Basilica, Diamond Necklace coped well with ground which had undoubtedly softened under heavy mid-afternoon rain, just as she had in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) on Arc day, though those closest to her must be relishing the chance of unleashing her full potential on a sounder surface.
"I'm delighted, Ryan gave her a brilliant ride," said O'Brien. "She's like her dad as she has improved from 2 to 3. Christophe (Soumillon) rode her last year and it was Ryan's first time today. She was very classy last year and she's got a lot of natural ability."
Diamond Necklace was cut across the board for the Epsom Oaks (G1), with the sponsors making her 5-1 second-favorite behind stablemate Amelia Earhart, though it's hard to escape the conclusion there are a couple of extra points on top because the Coolmore partners may be tempted to return to France for the Prix de Diane (G1) at Chantilly June 14.
O'Brien and the owners will have that discussion in the days to come, but confirmed she will go up in trip for one of the two middle-distance Classics rather than stay at a mile.
"We had it in our head she'd be either a Prix de Diane filly or go for the Oaks, depending what the lads want to do," said O'Brien. "We thought that was the way she was going to go, up to a mile-and-a-quarter and maybe further. She's very exciting. We're so lucky to have her. I didn't get to speak to Ryan about how far she'll stay, but she had a lovely position, she went through the race very easily and handled the ground very well. She's a natural, just like her father."
The form of the Pouliches followed that of the Boussac closely, with Kentucky-bred Green Spirit and Narissa filling third and fourth here, having been second and third in October.
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