LiveScore Racing Daily: Latest news, form and analysis for June 21, 2021

Chantilly success for O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien has claimed his maiden victory in the Prix de Diane after Joan Of Arc secured success in the Group One showpiece at Chantilly on Sunday.

It is the third French Classic triumph O'Brien has enjoyed this season after Joan Of Arc's stablemate St Mark's Basilica emerged victorious in both the French 2000 Guineas and Derby. 

Joan Of Arc had most recently been seen losing by a short head in last month's Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh last month, but there were no such near misses this time around, as jockey Ioritz Mendizabal steered her home despite a late challenge from Philomene. 

Mendizabal was full of praise for the filly after the race, telling the Racing Post: "For me it's unimaginable and completely magical. 

"I was in a perfect position to strike but when I asked her for effort the leader wasn't coming back and I wasn't sure I would get there. She's a good filly to run them down." 

Smart considering York date for Project Dante

Trainer Bryan Smart expects Project Dante to return to action at York's Ebor meeting in August following his impressive showing at Royal Ascot. 

The two-year-old chestnut colt came close to snatching victory in Thursday's Norfolk Stakes, only being beaten into third place by a head and a nose as Perfect Power claimed the spoils in the Group Two contest run over five furlongs. 

Smart was impressed by Project Dante's performance in that race and he is expecting a further improvement on his next showing, which is likely to come at York in either the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes or the Group One Nunthorpe. 

"Firstly I just want to get him over Royal Ascot," said Smart. "To go to Royal Ascot, I normally like to get two runs into them, and he only had the one. He will improve again for education. 

"He'll be entered in most of the smart races. We will definitely look at the Gimcrack. He'll be entered in that, and I might give him an entry in the Nunthorpe." 

Murphy savours top jockey crown at Ascot

Oisin Murphy has been reflecting on being crowned top jockey at Royal Ascot over the weekend, admitting it was 'beyond his wildest dreams' to pick up the accolade for the first time. 

The 25-year-old sealed the title and his fifth success of the week after steering Foxes Tales to victory in Saturday's Golden Gates Stakes. 

The dual champion jockey's most notable win of the meeting came aboard Alcohol Free in the Group One Coronation Stakes on Friday and he has now revealed that he had never even considered being crowned leading jockey. 

"It's beyond my wildest dreams to be top jockey here," Murphy told reporters. "I watched this meeting with my parents and never thought this armband belonged with me. The last few days have been incredible." 

Balding considering options for Ascot stars

Trainer Andrew Balding says he is yet to confirm his plans for unbeaten Royal Ascot juveniles Berkshire Shadow and Sandrine. 

It was a successful week for Balding at the Royal meeting as he claimed four winners, including the triumphs of Berkshire Shadow in Tuesday's Group Two Coventry Stakes and Sandrine in the Group Three Albany Stakes on Friday. 

Balding has now confirmed that both horses have come out of the meeting unscathed, but he is yet to decide where either will be heading next. 

"Berkshire Shadow has come out of his race well," the Kingsclere trainer told reporters. "He's obviously a smart horse. I've no fixed plans at the moment. 

"Sandrine did it nicely. There was no fluke about it. I thought she was impressive. I haven't given much thought to what next for her. We're blessed to have two horses like that in the yard."