Dead heat after Diva Ek disqualified from victory

by Thomas Hedlund

Heavy favorite Diva Ek appeared to have held on to win Saturday’s (Oct. 24) $80,000 C.L. Müller’s Memorial at Jägersro, but the result turned into something much more unusual. The two horses behind her, Kentucky River and Boscha Diablo, were ultimately declared the winners. Both of them. A dead heat.

Diva Ek (Trixton) took the lead from Boscha Diablo (Traders) around the first turn, and for much of the race everything appeared to be going the Italian mare’s way.

Trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro was able to control a relatively moderate pace, and Diva Ek had a clear advantage turning for home. But Gocciadoro began to get nervous when Johan Untersteiner found room behind Boscha Diablo, while Kentucky River (Father Patrick) was finishing strongly three-wide.

It was a close finish, but Diva Ek crossed the wire first. However, she had drifted outward one lane in the stretch, something the Jägersro judges weren’t willing to overlook. And had the race been contested in North America, the ruling probably wouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. Diva Ek was placed third, while Boscha Diablo and Kentucky River, who had crossed the wire together, were declared dead-heat winners.

“You certainly get to experience a lot in this sport; winning a race in a dead heat when you weren’t even first across the wire,” said Magnus A. Djuse, who drove Kentucky River.

“It was well deserved for Kentucky River. He’s been racing well every time for quite a while now.”

Djuse also said he had been able to drive his horse throughout the entire stretch without interference.

Untersteiner, who drove Boscha Diablo, shared that assessment.

“I was able to drive straight ahead the entire stretch and didn’t really notice that we were interfered with,” Untersteiner said.

The official winning time for both horses was a 1:57.1 mile rate for 2,640 meters.

FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY FOR CRITERIUM WINNER NAYA D’ERONVILLE

Friday night’s (Oct. 23) $125,000 Prix Uranie for 3-year-old fillies at Vincennes was contested in rainy conditions, and two of the leading contenders eliminated themselves with early breaks.

But even if they had stayed flat, they might have had trouble beating Naya d’Eronville.

Normandie Niemen broke stride before the start of the 2,175-meter race. Although she recovered, she was left far back in the field with little chance of challenging for a top placing.

After approximately 200 meters, Nocive du Choquel made contact with a sulky and broke stride, ending her chances as well.

With two of the race’s strongest contenders effectively out of contention, the way was clear for Critérium des 3 Ans winner Naya d’Eronville (Hohneck).

Driver Clément Duvaldestin sent the Thierry Duvaldestin-trained filly forward from fourth-over on the uphill section of the Vincennes backstretch.

Naya d’Eronville quickly advanced to the outside of pacesetter Nyassa Daxel (Earl Simon).

For much of the stretch, Nyassa Daxel appeared capable of holding off her challenger, but Naya d’Eronville proved too strong in the closing stages.

She drew clear to a convincing victory in a 1:56.1 mile rate for 2,175 meters. It was her fifth consecutive victory.

The winning streak began at Enghien in late July, when she captured the €40,000 Prix de Vouvray, followed by the €53,000 Prix des Tuileries at the same track. Her three most recent victories have all come in group races. In addition to the €300,000 Critérium des 3 Ans and Friday’s Prix Uranie, Naya d’Eronville has also captured the €150,000 Yearling Cup 2026.

NOBEL DU RIB DOMINATES PRIX VICTOR RÉGIS

The $125,000 Prix Victor Régis for 3-year-old colts was contested on the same Friday evening at Vincennes, and favorite Nobel du Rib delivered an impressive performance.

Nobel du Rib (Face Time Bourbon) was forced to do the work first-over alongside pacesetter Nat King Cole (Ready Cash) for much of the Group 2 event. But the demanding trip made little difference.

At the top of the stretch, driver Jean-Loïc-Claude Dersoir asked the Joël Hallais-trained colt to accelerate, and Nobel du Rib responded immediately.

Nat King Cole had no answer as Nobel du Rib powered past and drew clear to a convincing victory in a 1:56 mile rate for 2,175 meters.

It was the biggest victory of Nobel du Rib’s career to date.

The colt finished third in the Critérium des 3 ans last month and has now finished in the top three in all 10 of his career starts.