By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's €1.7-million Arqana August sale topper Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) backed up a TDN Rising Star performance at the Curragh last month with a first black-type triumph in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown.
“I was quite confident when I saw the attitude she had going down to the start and she was really professional,” said winning jockey Christophe Soumillon. “She was a little impatient in the stalls and didn't jump out properly. I had to change plans because she was quite far back. She responded really well when I asked her to quicken at the two-furlong pole and she did it so easy. For her second start, doing what she does is quite amazing. She's quite mature for an inexperienced filly and it will be lovely to see her on Arc Weekend [in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac].”
Diamond Necklace was last of eight away and settled several lengths off the pace in fifth after the initial strides. Coming under pressure to close when moving into fourth in early straight, the 1-2 favourite quickened smartly to gain an edge with 100 yards remaining and lengthened clear thereafter to easily overpower Sukanya (Havana Grey) by 2 1/4 lengths.
Two from two!
The €1.7m filly Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) sparkles in the Irish Champions Festival opener for Christophe Soumillon, Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/R7zoqiSpAO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Diamond Necklace becomes the third black-type winner for her freshman sire and fourth for the stakes-winning Prudenzia (Dansili), whose leading performers are G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Montjeu), G1 MacKinnon Stakes victrix Magic Wand (Galileo) and G3 Prix Penelope winner Philomene (Dubawi). Chicquita, in turn, produced Group 2-winning G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Emily Dickenson (Dubawi). Prudenzia, kin to G3 Prix de Lutece victrix Pacifique (Montjeu) and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial victor English King (Camelot), is a full-sister to the dam of stakes-winning G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Vespertillo (Night Of Thunder). She hails from the family of G2 Lancashire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks second Pongee (Barathea) and dual Oaks heroine Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells). Prudenzia's yearling filly by Night Of Thunder topped the sheets when knocked down for a cool €3-million at the recent Arqana August sale.
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD IRISH EBF INGABELLE STAKES-Listed, €100,000, Leopardstown, 9-13, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:28.24, g/y.
1–DIAMOND NECKLACE (IRE), 128, f, 2, by St Mark's Basilica (Fr)
1st Dam: Prudenzia (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Puce (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€1,700,000 Ylg '24 ARAUG). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $92,765. *1/2 to Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1SW-Aus, GSW & MG1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, MG1SP-Fr, MGISP-US, G1SP-HK, $4,802,433; Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Eng & Fr, $859,094; Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $349,670; Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), MGSP-KSA & GSP-Eng, $1,323,627.
2–Sukanya (GB), 128, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Shiba (Fr), by Rail Link (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (£55,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK). O-Opulence Thoroughbreds & Partner III; B-Corps Commerce Ltd; T-Jack Channon. €20,000.
3–Caught U Sleeping (Ire), 128, f, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Parasail (GB), by New Approach (Ire). (€31,000 2yo '25 TATBRU). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Anthony Clarke; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Noel Meade. €10,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 10.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Killashee Warrior (GB), Venosa, Brownstown (GB), Mighty Danu (Ire), Teewinot (Ire). Scratched: Inbox (GB), Killashee Warrior (GB), Red Autumn (Ire).
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