Unbeaten St Mark’s Basilica filly Diamond Necklace kept her record perfect at Chantilly in France overnight when capturing the Group I Prix de Diane (2100m) (French Oaks) adding to her last start win in the Group I Poule d’Essai Des Pouliches (1600m) (French 1000 Guineas).
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale when sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier, Diamond Necklace is a filly that has been in the spotlight for her whole life.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Diamond Necklace kept her record at a perfect five wins from five starts when she surged home from back in the field to score a short neck win over the long shot Pink Panthera, who made her work for the win.
“When we work Diamond Necklace at home she's always like that, whatever the trip. She goes clear by a length or two and then she waits,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“We thought she could get a mile and a half riding her patiently. It might be more that she's waiting rather than she's getting to the end [of her stamina], and she wasn't blowing very hard afterwards.
“Her stride was long and usually when they're getting to the end of their trip, their stride gets shorter. She will probably end up in an Arc trial or a mile and a quarter fillies' race, something like that.”
Ryan Moore could not have been happier with Diamond Necklace.
Diamond Necklace runs for the Coolmore partners and was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Skymarc Farm. She is the half-sister to multiple Group I winners Magic Wand and Chiquita (dam of Group II winner Emily Dickinson), as well as Group III winner Philomene.
She is the ninth winner and third G1 winner from 10 foals to race from stakes-winning Dansili blue hen Prudenzia.
Diamond Necklace is the first G1 winner among five stakes-winners for St Mark’s Basilica, who is due back at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $38,500.
His first Australian runners are juveniles and include undefeated stakes-winning colt Artistopolos, stakes-placed West Coast and promising metro winners La Barrita and Apostle.
