THE favourite La Cressonniere was kept out of all the trouble in last Sunday’s Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, where nine of the 16 runners met with some sort of interference.

Italian-born Cristian Demuro gave the filly a faultess ride, which allowed her to extend her unbeaten record to seven and also land a classic double, as the daughter of Le Havre had previously won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

But it was a dramatic race as Armande, owned and bred by Lady O’Reilly and France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild, was badly interfered with half way up the straight and dislodged Pierre-Charles Boudot, who was quickly okay and back on his feet; he rode the winner of the last. The stewards held an enquiry and blamed William Buick on Highlands Queen for the incident.

After learning of his 15-day suspension, the normally polite Buick is believed to have pointed his index finger at several of the stewards and said the word “corrupt” on several occasions. He was then advised to return to apologise, which he did, and so possibly averting an even longer punishment.

The filly was disqualified from eighth place and placed last. Buick has lodged an appeal which, if unsuccessful, means the Godolphin-retained rider will miss the July meeting at Newmarket, the King George at Ascot and Goodwood.

Chantilly is not a lucky track for Aidan O’Brien. The 89/1 chance Coolmore ran her heart out to finish fifth and just a neck ahead of the more fancied Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore. From a difficult outside draw (stall 15) she was crossed and checked by Ryan Moore when Camprock wandered left just after the stalls opened. The filly was last at the two furlong marker. Ballydoyle did make up some ground in the final stages and almost certainly found the ground (3.5) a little too soft.

La Cressonniere bided her time with Demuro early on and started her winning run from the two furlong post. Keeping out of all the trouble, she was eased into the lead a furlong out and a second classic was in the bag from that point.

She had a comfortable half-length to spare over the 26/1 chance Left Hand on the line, with a rather unlucky Volta (supplemented) over a length away in third, and then came the rank outsider Azaelia, Coolmore and Ballydoyle.

ANOTHER SUCCESS

It was another major success for Jean-Claude Rouget, who is now certain to be the champion French trainer for a second time, unless Andre Fabre wins the Qatar Arc de Triomphe.

In 2009, Rouget reeled off the Pouliches, the Montjeu Coolmore Saint-Alary, the Jockey Club and the Diane before his first title and has landed the same sequence this year.

“It’s the first time I have seen her come from so far back,” Rouget said immediately after. “La Cressonniere has everything and is a real crack. Just so good.”

He continued: “The only doubt before the race was the distance (10 1/2f) as she had never attempted it before.” She is likely to run in the Prix de la Nonette at Deauville and then go directly to the Qatar Arc de Triomphe.

It had been a fantastic 48 hours for Rouget, who landed the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with Qemah, who will head for the Prix Rothschild, on the Friday.

In France, the Pau-based trainer has accumulated €3.9 million or €5.8 million when French-bred owner’s premiums are taken into account. Rouget is now €2.4 million clear of ,Fabre and, in addition, he has now won four of the last eight runnings of the Diane following those of Stacelita (2009), Valyra (2012) and Avenir Certain in 2014.

Avenir Certain, like La Cressonniere, is jointly bred and owned by Antonio Caro and the Belgian-based fund manager Gerard Augustin-Norman. Both fillies are by Le Havre and the Diane winner amassed a total of €900,526, which includes owner’s premiums, and a further €135,000 of breeders’ premiums.

Demuro (23) reported: “I decided to wait with her after a few bumps early on and she was running over the distance for the first time. At the entrance to the straight, I knew she was capable of winning. To win the Diane is a dream come true.”

The runner-up, Left Hand (Dubawi), was well-beaten by Ballydoyle in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac and fourth in the Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. However, she showed her true worth in the Diane. Carlos Laffon-Parias said: “Like many of my horses, she had been under the weather earlier in the season, but I was pleased with her run in the Saint-Alary. Today she was beaten by a better horse. Now she deserves a little rest and we will think about the Prix Vermeille or, perhaps, Deauville.”

Aidan O’Brien reported that Ballydoyle was not quite right on this occasion. “She would have preferred better ground and she also had a bad draw,” he said. “The filly could go back to a mile or run over 10 furlongs if the ground is quicker. She has been entered in the Falmouth Stakes, but must have her ground.”