Brant's Gezora Qualifies for Arc with Prix de Diane Win

There are few races in the French calendar that carry as many hopes and dreams as the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) and trainer Francis Graffard enjoyed a moment that will take some beating as his three runners took control of the race inside the final two furlongs. It was the Peter Brant White Birch Farm-owned Gezora (FR) who ultimately prevailed, one of four winners on the day for a rampant Christophe Soumillon, while Graffard heads to Royal Ascot with an enviable host of big-race chances. The trainer, who was winning a second Diane after Channel's success in 2019, admitted to a wave of emotion engulfing him as Gezora, Cankoura, and Mandanaba (FR) surged forward, though ever the professional he was all too conscious of the specter of fast-finishing Bedtime Story (IRE) and Ryan Moore. "During the race I was trying to follow all three through my binoculars," said Graffard. "I was a bit frustrated with where Mandanaba found herself during the race but they all picked up really well and there was a moment when I saw this green wave surge forward. "It was an incredible moment, although I wasn't absolutely sure we'd win even then because Aidan's filly was finishing fast, but I was focused on my filly. "That moment when my three fillies went to the front, I was on my own little cloud." While the Aga Khan team had to settle for minor honors in third and fourth, they will be hopeful Graffard's good form continues on the royal racecourse, notably with Candelari (IRE) in the Gold Cup (G1) and Zarigana (GB) in the June 20 Coronation Stakes (G1). The green sported by Soumillon aboard Gezora was that of Brant, who watched Sottsass (FR) carry them to victory in the Arc from his Manhattan apartment due to Covid restrictions in 2020, and who must be hoping his filly continues her progress in the autumn towards a race he first witnessed in person when Mill Reef won in 1971. As quotes of 14-1 came in about Gezora becoming the first to do the Diane-Arc double since Treve (FR) in 2013, Brant said: "If she never does anything else she's won a Prix de Diane and that's pretty special." Brant bought Gezora after a promising 2-year-old season in which she notably finished second to Middleham Park's Lazy Griff (GER), form which now looks solid given it produced a Derby second and a Diane winner. "It's a great old Niarchos family and we decided to purchase her," said Brant. "She had a really good record at 2 and now she has a great record at 3 and she's a really good filly. "There's probably three or four races I've dreamt of winning and that I value the most, and the Prix de Diane would be one of them. It's the greatest 3-year-old fillies' race in the world." On the subject of the Arc, for which Gezora is now guaranteed a run thanks to the Diane forming part of the new 'Arc Races' series, Graffard said: "I was extremely confident I was bringing her here in the best possible shape without really knowing how high she could go. I'm not surprised she ran a big race. "I'm delighted we now have 'win and you're in' races here, and the filly loves soft ground. This was a huge effort for her, and we'll have a chat about how we approach the autumn, but I would imagine."