Aventure ends Diamond Necklace's unbeaten streak

Aidan O'Brien's Diamond Necklace tasted defeat for the first time as Aventure served a reminder of her top-class credentials in the Sumbe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville.

The daughter of St Mark's Basilica was expected to dazzle once again in France, having landed the Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai Des Pouliches and Prix de Diane on her travels during an unbeaten six-race career to date. However, she had no answer to the experience of her Christophe Ferland-trained elder, who added to last year's Group One strike in the Prix Vermeille to the delight of her connections.

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers, expressed his happiness with the result. "We're very happy and when she won the Prix Corrida earlier this year we were very happy but then made a mistake by running over a mile and a half in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud," he said. "There was a strong field of fillies including Diamond Necklace, but what our mare did is just wonderful, she is such a champion. We will be very happy to have her as a broodmare one day, but we will enjoy her racing for the moment!"

Second to Bluestocking in the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Aventure earned a quote of 20-1 for this year's renewal from Paddy Power following her triumph over O'Brien's star performer in the hands of Maxime Guyon.

However, there will be no third attempt at Europe's richest middle-distance prize for the five-year-old, who will instead remain at 10 furlongs for the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day before a possible trip to Keeneland.

Bureau added: "It's quite unusual, but this filly is getting more speed with age and 10 furlongs is her perfect trip now. She has been really well prepared for this race. The plan is to run her in the Prix de l'Opera and then if everything goes well we might take her to the Breeders' Cup for the Filly & Mare Turf, but we will take it step-by-step and one race at a time."

In a close-up third was the Charlie Johnston-trained Timeforshowcasing, ridden by Jack Mitchell.

Senorita Bonita shines in Prix Morny

Elsewhere on the card, Senorita Bonita demonstrated her devastating turn of foot to scorch to Sumbe Prix Morny glory in Deauville.

The 900,000 guineas top lot from April's Craven Breeze-Up sale, the Crisfords' filly arrived on the Normandy coast looking to follow up her victory in Newmarket's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, a win that received a timely boost from Lowther Stakes scorer Libertango earlier this week.

Held up towards the rear by Oisin Murphy, with Clive Cox's Royal Ascot winner Orthodox ahead, the daughter of Starspangledbanner had plenty of ground to make up on Aidan O'Brien's front-running Carry The Flag entering the final third of the contest. However, once the champion jockey stepped on the accelerator the response was instant, as Senorita Bonita rapidly ate away at the deficit and then surged readily clear of the long-time pace-setter for a thoroughly impressive victory.

Simon Crisford praised the filly's performance, noting her acceleration and the strong pace set by the field.

The win marked the father-son training team's second Group One victory after Vandeek in 2023, and continues the fine record of fillies in the contest. Owned by Victorious Racing, Senorita Bonita will target the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, for which she was made the 5-2 favourite. She could meet former foe Libertango and Sun Goddess in that contest.