More joy for O'Brien Happily wins battle of the sexes

Three years ago France's most prestigious event for two-year-olds ended in disappointment for Ballydoyle when Gleneagles had victory taken from him in the Longchamp stewards' room. This time, on a different course but in the same race, the demoted colt's sister gained compensation for her family and stable.

It was due to drifting right and hampering the second and third that the klaxon sounded and the connections of Gleneagles, plus his backers, began to worry.

Fast forward to 2017 and for a brief moment Happily also seemed set to lug right under pressure.

The moment, thankfully and happily, was very brief indeed, for with Ryan Moore waving his whip in the right hand the daughter of Galileo not only kept straight but also kept on powerfully to claim the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

In doing so she became the first filly in 31 years to win a contest also known as the Grand Criterium. Maintaining a theme of big numbers, the victory gave Aidan O'Brien his 21st Group 1 success of the year, one afternoon after he notched the 19th and 20th, also with juveniles, at Newmarket.

Happily and Ryan Moore make their way to the startCredit: Edward Whitaker

One of those triumphs was achieved by Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Clemmie, and although she retains favouritism for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at odds ranging from 11-4 to 5-1, Happily is no bigger than 7-1 – and as short as 7-2 - for the same Classic and additionally now ante-post favourite for the Investec Oaks, offered between 4-1 and 7-1.

Asked to compare the two fillies, O'Brien – who was winning the Lagardere for the eighth time – said: "Clemmie has won over six furlongs, which not many Galileos do. This filly might stay further than Clemmie but I don't know whether she's better."

Whether better or not she is evidently extremely talented, having also finished strongly to claim the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on her previous outing. A powerful finish was again the hallmark of her performance, which resulted in a convincing defeat of leading home hope Olmedo and the Charlie Appleby-trained Masar.

"Michael [Tabor] said here last year that this would be a good race to put a filly in but it was still a big call to run her against the colts," added O'Brien.

It was exactly that. Tabor was delighted it paid off.

"We just thought she would fit in this race – and luckily we were right," he said.

"Sometimes you just get a feeling. Sometimes you look a genius. Sometimes you look a fool. She's good, though, that's the main thing. She's obviously a very tough, hardy animal, so we'll be looking forward to next year with her."

Also excited about 2018 is Olmedo's trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

"He has run very well and he just wasn't as hardened as the Irish horse," he said.

"He has reinforced what we already thought of him, which was he is very good horse. We will prepare him for the good races next year, such as the Poule d'Essai and the Jockey Club, just as we did with Brametot. I think he is that sort of level."

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

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