Crack Almanzor filly claims Oaks

Gezora crowned her impressive ascent to the elite level with a stunning victory in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly.

The outstanding daughter of our resident Almanzor was making just her seventh appearance and her previous four wins included the G2 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp and Deauville’s G3 Prix des Reservoirs.

Trainer by Francis Graffard, Gezora lodged her claim for glory 300 metres from home and held a strong gallop to land the 2100 metre Classic by a length.

“She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all the time, and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself,” Graffard said.

Gezora was expertly handled by Christophe Soumillon, who had been in a bullish pre-race mood.

“What an amazing race, I was very confident before the race as she was going down to the start very easily. She was moving perfectly,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

"I had a good draw but I was a bit, not nervous, but thinking that if a lot of fillies without (strong) chances are in front of me, I could be stuck inside so I told Francis before the race and said if I have an option to come out then try to stay second-deep or third-deep, it will be great.

"When they started to quicken in the straight, I was following them really easily, I knew she’d be able to change gear and that’s exactly what she did. The pace was on, and she was ready to react at the right time.”

Gezora was raced by Haras d’Etreham before she was purchased by Peter Brandt’s White Birch Farm three starts back.

“I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamed of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race, it’s always stiff competition,” Brandt said.

Gezora is now likely to return to Longchamp for the G1 Prix Vermeille over 2400 metres before a call is made on the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, also 2400 metres.

She is a daughter of the Silver Hawk mare Germance, who won five races including the Saint-Alary in 2006 when it carried Group 1 status and then finished runner-up in the Oaks.

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