Aventure outshines Diamond Necklace in Group 1 Romanet

DEAUVILLE – One year after trainer Christophe Ferland deliberately bypassed the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet (2,000m) with Aventure in favour of the Group 1 Prix Vermeille (2,400m), the Wertheimer homebred returned to Normandy to claim the prize she had missed and bring Diamond Necklace’s unbeaten record to an emphatic end.

The five-year-old mare by Sea The Stars became the first winner of the Deauville Group 1 feature renamed under its new title of the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet, introduced this year following the passing of Louis Romanet in March.

Maxime Guyon, meanwhile, registered a third success in the mile-and-a-quarter contest, drawing level with Frankie Dettori as its most successful rider.

Aventure ($38) broke sharply and was prominent early before Guyon allowed her to find a position in midfield as Moments Of Joy and Wayne Lordan set the tempo.

Shaken up turning for home, she remained covered up towards the inside until Guyon deftly picked out a gap nearing the last 400m.

Aventure slipped through the opening, struck the front around a furlong and a half from home and drew clear with sufficient authority for Guyon to glance behind before the line.

Coolmore’s star filly Diamond Necklace (Ryan Moore), sent off the 2-9 favourite after winning each of her first six starts, could not summon her customary acceleration and finished two lengths away in second, with outsider Timeforshowcasing (Jack Mitchell) another head back in third.

The victory brought Aventure back to a race that had been firmly on the agenda 12 months earlier. Ferland considered the Romanet in 2025 but instead kept her fresh for the Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp, a decision rewarded when she defeated Group 1 Prix de Diane (2,100m) winner Gezora at Chantilly by a length and a half to secure her first top-level success.

Her five-year-old campaign had begun with third place behind Daryz in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (2,100m) at ParisLongchamp on April 26.

Aventure then successfully defended her crown in the Group 2 Prix Corrida over the same course and distance one month later on May 24 before finishing fourth behind Calandagan in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2,400m) on July 5.

“It’s magic, very pleasant. She won very well today, good satisfaction,” said the Chantilly-based Ferland, who now boasts six Group 1 wins on his honour roll.

“To see a filly like that fight against the best horses, especially the one (Diamond Necklace) – I don’t want to say it’s frustrating to get beat all the time – but to see her winning again, it’s very pleasant.

“The distance is perfect for her now. She has the speed now and we will stick to this distance in the Prix de l’Opera (2,000m) and probably the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare (1,900m).

“Mr Wertheimer lives in America. They have horses in training there, so they like to have runners over there.”

Bred and owned by Wertheimer & Frere, Aventure also has a notable family connection with the Romanet.

Her dam Balladeuse won the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu (2,800m) at Longchamp in 2008, and has also produced Group 1 winner Left Hand, who ran third in the 2017 Romanet, while another daughter, Romanciere, occupied the same spot in the 2020 renewal.

Guyon said that the 2026 Romanet was one of Aventure’s best wins, especially after upstaging Diamond Necklace.

“When we came in between the two horses, I straight away felt we were quickening better than the others,” said the French jockey.

“We know very well that English and Irish horses can always stage a late comeback, but she never dropped off and she won like a crack.

“I think that is her best win because she beat a filly that was unbeaten, who won the French 1000 Guineas, the Prix de Diane. Today my mare was phenomenal.”

RACING AND SPORTS