Apprentice Jack Nicholls records famous Group One win in Abbaye
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 4 Oct 2026
Jack Nicholls upheld family tradition in winning a first Group One aboard the supplemented Miss Yechance in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines at ParisLongchamp.
The grandson of David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls – who won this race in 2002 with Continent and was renowned as a master trainer of sprinters – and son of Adrian, former jockey now trainer, Nicholls has taken his chance with both hands in what has been a breakthrough season.
Riding in his first top-level contest, Nicholls, 20, found himself up alongside Ryan Moore on Mission Central inside the final furlong but timed it all to perfection for a famous success aboard the Karl Burke-trained filly. Shiri flashed home to claim second ahead of Mission Central.
Nicholls said: “I’ve never had a feeling like that, there’s no words to describe it really.
“I can’t take much credit, she does everything herself and I’m just the lucky lad that gets to sit on top of her. I just try to keep her as happy as I can and she does the rest for me.
“I didn’t think I would get a chance in a Group One and I’ll be forever grateful to the owners and Karl for putting their trust in me and to let me ride her.”
Of the family connection to the race, he said: “The name Nicholls is only known for sprinters really. My grandad was probably one of the best sprint trainers that ever lived and my dad won two Group Ones, so it would probably be a bit weird if I wasn’t riding in sprint races.
“Continent was very special horse to the family, we had him in the field in retirement. I would have taken any Group One, but if I could have picked one it probably would have been the Abbaye.
“My dad is the best dad in the world. I went to see him the other day and he said it would be the fastest 55 seconds of my life and the weirdest as well.”
The win was also a huge fillip for the Burke yard, who lost stable star Fallen Angel on Saturday.
Nicholls added: “It’s great for the yard as obviously they had a bad day yesterday with Fallen Angel. She might have been looking down and helped us in that last 50 yards. It’s very special.”
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