Laurens wins Prix Diane at Chantilly

Laurens has given trainer Karl Burke and jockey PJ McDonald their first taste of Classic success with a determined victory in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Having rounded off her juvenile campaign with a Group One triumph in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, the filly returned to finish second in last month’s 1000 Guineas.

She doubled her top-level tally in the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp three weeks ago and crossed the Channel once more for a tilt at the French Oaks.

Laurens broke smartly from her barrier 12 and although she was trapped wide throughout, she was still travelling strongly at the top of the home straight.

Former jumps jockey McDonald had to get to work with two furlongs to run, but Laurens answered his every call to see off all comers and claim a popular success.

Musis Amica finished strongly to grab the runner-up spot ahead of Homerique.

“We’re all ecstatic, as you can imagine,” Burke said.

“Every winning jockey gives a horse a good ride, but I thought PJ was exceptional on her.

“She’s in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks is a race we’d love to go for.

“Whether she runs in one or both of those races, we’ll have to see. We’ll let her tell us what she wants to do.

“She’s in the Arc at the end of the year and a gentleman from Japan has told me today she qualifies for a very valuable fillies’ race out there now, so all options are open to her.”

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