Expensive filly Al Naamah has come up short at her first attempt in Group company, beating only one runner home at Chantilly.
Al Shaqab Racing paid five million guineas ($A9 million) for Al Naamah last year, a European record for a yearling at public auction.
Al Naamah made such an encouraging debut at the course in late June, she had been promoted to favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Bidding to improve Frankie Dettori’s fortunes after he lost the ride on Arc winner Treve to Thierry Jarnet, Al Naamah seemed to be going reasonably well in the 1600m Group Three race.
But inside the final two furlongs (400m) her Andre Fabre-trained stablemate and second string Shahah still held a comfortable advantage.
In the end, Al Naamah weakened to finish sixth of the seven starters, while Shahah held on to beat the previously unbeaten Night Of Light by 1-1/4 lengths.
Ironically, Shahah was only recently moved by Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s operation from Richard Hannon’s yard and into the care of Fabre so as to assist in the training of Al Naamah.
“Obviously Al Naamah was disappointing but she’ll be fine, and Andre said that we know she’s better than that,” the sheikh’s racing adviser harry Herbert said.
“She’s a big, tall, scopey filly and Frankie said she could never get into the race.
“I’m delighted Al Shaqab have won but it’s a strange feeling for it to have been with a pacemaker.”
