Diamond Necklace delivers clear-cut Ingabelle win

Diamond Necklace sparkled in the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes, as she enhanced her reputation at Leopardstown.

Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of St Mark’s Basilica – who cost €1.7million as a yearling – had impressed at the Curragh on debut and Christophe Soumillon was in no hurry as he rode the youngster with supreme confidence in this step up to Listed level.

Jack Channon’s Sukanya had headed Diamond Necklace’s stablemate Venosa entering the final furlong, but the 1-2 favourite was beginning to hit top gear under the Belgian rider.

It was Soumillon’s first victory since filling the role of Ballydoyle super sub for the injured Ryan Moore as Diamond Necklace cruised to a cosy two-and-a-quarter-length success, with Coral making the winner 14-1 for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year.

“That was lovely, Christophe gave her a lovely ride,” said O’Brien.

“She’s a lovely filly and she’s going to stay further. We’ll have a look at the Fillies’ Mile (at Newmarket) or the Prix Marcel Boussac (at ParisLongchamp) with her.

“There was a good pace on. We knew at the Curragh that she was a filly that was going to want every yard of seven furlongs.

“Christophe was very patient on her, it was an even gallop and I don’t think he even touched her.

“The Curragh was her first time away from home and she still won, usually if they do that they can often be a bit different.

“She’s a filly that cost a lot of money, with a great pedigree, and her work was always very right.

“She’s by St Mark’s Basilica and he didn’t win his Group race until the Dewhurst, he went through the whole year.”

Soumillon and O’Brien soon enjoyed more success in the juvenile division when Benvenuto Cellini (1-2 favourite) stepped up to Group Two level in style to enhance his trainer’s stellar record in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes.

Having raced in the slipstream of the front-running Hardy Warrior in the early stages, the son of Frankel and Breeders’ Cup-winning Newspaperofrecord showed a deadly turn of foot in the home straight to gallop to a five-length victory.

“He’s lovely and has a big, open stride,” said O’Brien.

“He won his maiden well and looks like he’s going to be a lovely middle-distance horse.

“Dylan (Browne McMonagle on Hardy Warrior) took him along out in the middle of the track and Christophe had the choice of coming to the right or left rail and it was easier to go to the right rail.”

William Hill make Benvenuto Cellini their new 14-1 favourite for next year’s Derby, with Paddy Power going even shorter at 8-1.

However, Soumillon suggested to the master of Ballydoyle the French equivalent could prove a better fit, with O’Brien looking at a possible trip to Doncaster or France before the season is out.

O’Brien added: “I couldn’t be happier. He was always going to be a Derby trial horse and Christophe said he feels like French Derby horse.

“He can go again this year in the Futurity (at Doncaster) or one of the French races and then start in the Derby trials next year, I’d imagine.

“He’s a close, compact horse, but he’s a big horse. He’s a very good walker and a great galloper, he really opens up and levels out on the ground when you ask him to go. That’s usually a good sign.”