Chicquita trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre tipped the French raider for a run in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after her victory in Darley Irish Oaks on Saturday.
The three-year-old came into the Group One contest at the Curragh without a win to her name, having suffered a dramatic fall when looking nailed on for victory at Saint-Cloud in June.
Royer-Dupre’s star filly was clear of the field at Saint-Cloud before she began hanging badly in the home stretch and collided with a hedge, falling with the finish line in sight.
There were fears Chicquita could suffer a similar fate when she took up the running in the Irish Oaks from Riposte before hanging badly to the left.
Johnny Murtagh was just able to keep the French filly under control though as she edged out Venus De Milo by half a length.
A stewards inquiry was called after the success because of the way Chicquita cut across the runner-up but the result stood due to the victor having made her move with sufficient momentum in the view of the judges.
Having come out on top at the Curragh, Royer-Dupre is now looking to take Chicquita back to France for the Prix Vermeille in September before the Arc in October.
“She’s a great filly, she is the best filly I have in my yard. That’s why I decided after she fell back in Saint-Cloud to go straight away to the Prix de Diane because I know she has talent.
“I’ll never know why she flew into the hedge at Saint-Cloud that day, I think she wanted to come home too early. She will probably go now for the Prix Vermeille and then maybe the Arc. I think she is good on any ground.”
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