Green Empress rules in Prix Marcel Boussac Green Empress provided Joseph O’Brien with another big-race success when narrowly holding off Data to win the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp. Never out of the first two in her career, she was paying the ultimate compliment to the brilliant Sun Goddess, who to date has been the only filly to beat her – on no less than three occasions. Ridden confidently by Christophe Soumillon, Green Empress hit the front with half a furlong to run and looked set to win comfortably before Christoper Head’s Data made her pull out all the stops close home. O’Brien said: “It’s really special for us to have a Group One winner on this day and she has been progressive – she’s only ever been beaten by Sun Goddess all year. “She has a super pedigree, being by Saxon Warrior out of a Sea The Stars mare. We see her as a miler that might go 10 furlongs at some stage. “We’ll see how she comes out of today and discuss with the owners whether she’ll go to America (Breeders’ Cup) or whether we wait for next year.” The success was the latest Group One triumph in a stellar year for O’Brien, who added: “We’re very lucky to have the support of some great people and a wide variety of owners. “For us it’s about performing and executing at big meetings. It’s fantastic to have a big winner on Arc day.” Jane Mangan, racing manager for winning owners The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation Ltd, silks made famous in the past by Royal Anthem and many others, said: “This is Thoroughbred Racing Corporation’s first Group One since its relaunch, so it is quite special. “When this filly won the Debutante at the Curragh, it was exactly thirty years after the late Prince Ahmed Salman won the Debutante in the United States, his first Grade One. The whole family is absolutely delighted, and enormous credit really has to go to Joseph. He has been very patient with her. He had planned an autumn campaign and we kept running into Sun Goddess. Thankfully, today we got our chance! “The Breeders’ Cup is definitely on the agenda if she comes out of this race well. Joseph was very patient with her in the middle of the summer, with this type of campaign in mind, and we would very much like to go to Kentucky if the filly is able to.” There was sad note to the race, however, as the Ralph Beckett-trained Spirit Tango looked to go wrong when leading the field and was quickly pulled up by Oisin Murphy.
