The French Guineas double is on for Aidan O’Brien after both Puerto Rico and Diamond Necklace were declared for Sunday’s Classics at Longchamp.
Aidan O’Brien Looking For French Guineas Success On Sunday
After both Puerto Rico and Diamond Necklace didn’t take their chances in last weekend’s 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, they’ve both been declared for the French equivalent.
Declarations for the first two French Classics were made on Friday morning.
After Aidan O’Brien’s success at Chester this week, he could top off a fine week heading over to France on Sunday. He won the Chester Vase with Benvenuto Cellini and the Cheshire Oaks with Amelia Earhart, staking the yard’s claims for Epsom.
French 2000 Guineas – Puerto Rico Declared
PUERTO RICO will run in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Sunday as he looks to give O’Brien a 7th win in the race after winning with Henri Mattise last year.
The son of Wootton Bassett won two Group 1s in France towards the end of last season and looks tailor made for this.
He won the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day at Longchamp in October, so has course form. But he wasn’t finished there, he also went to Saint Cloud and won the Criterium International over 1m.
WATCH: Puerto Rico Wins On Arc Day
Aidan O’Brien French 2000 Guineas Winners (6)
- 2025 – Henri Mattise (Ryan Moore)
- 2021 – St Mark’s Basillica (Iortiz Mendizabal)
- 2016 – The Gurkha (Ryan Moore)
- 2007 – Astronomer Royal (Colm O’Donoghue)
- 2006 – Aussie Rules (Kieren Fallon)
- 2002 – Landseer (Michael Kinane)
Full French 2000 Guineas Declarations With Draw Numbers
- Rayif – Francis Henri-Graffard
- Imperior – Alicja Karkosa
- Dorset – Aidan O’Brien
- Khovikhov – Mauricio Delcher Sanchez
- Hankelow – Karl Burke
- Elastic – Christophe Ferland
- Puerto Rico – Aidan O’Brien
- Good Bye Manu – Mme P Butel & J-L Beaunez
- Komorebi – Andre Fabre
- Mijas – Mauricio Delcher Sanchez
- Wootton Centurion – Mme Victoria Head
- Segall – Andre Fabre
- Nighttime – Christopher Head
French 1000 Guineas – Diamond Necklace Declared
Bad news for Ballydoyle fans is that O’Brien has only won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches once and that was all the way back in 2001 with Rose Gypsy.
But DIAMOND NECKLACE could change that. She’s unbeaten after three starts and will be hopeful of keeping her 100% record in-tact.
She won two races in Ireland, a Curragh maiden and a listed race at Leopardstown. Then like stablemate Puerto Rico, she landed a Group 1 on Arc day when winning the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
The world is at her feet and if tuned up on her first run of the season, she may take all the beating.
Full French 1000 Guineas Declarations With Draw Numbers
- Showna – S Kobayashi
- Half Sovereign – Karl Burke
- Diamond Necklace – Aidan O’Brien
- The Last Dance – C & Y Lerner
- Anashkaya – Francis-Henri Graffard
- Fashion City – M Delzangles
- Maintain – H-F Devin
- Isle Of Fernandez – Kevin Ryan
- Narissa – Francis-Henri Graffard
- Venosa – Aidan O’Brien
- Zanthos – Simon & Ed Crisford
- Ymeeelih – A Schutz
- Baklawa – R Fradet
- Green Spirit – Christopher Head
- Radiant – Mme S Gavilan
