Godolphin's Sakhee suffered an unexpected defeat on his European return at Deauville this afternoon. Last season's highest rated horse was having his first race since finishing a disappointing third behind Street Cry in the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba in March in the Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville.
Sakhee had missed an intended engagement in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot last month because of unsuitably firm ground and was re-routed to today's Group Three contest, a race which was run on soft going, as part of his preparation for the Irish Champion Stakes.
Richard Hills, deputising for Frankie Dettori who was ruled out earlier this week by a bout of chicken pox, settled Sakhee in third place as stable companion Sydenham cut out the running at a good pace considering the testing conditions.
Turning into the straight Hills had 1-5 favourite Sakhee poised on the outside behind Wellbeing, the Godolphin pacemaker Sydenham having done his work. Coming down the La Touques straight Hills tried in vain to peg back Wellbeing, the former Henry Cecil-trained five-year-old now with Pascal Bary.
But Thierry Thulliez' mount, who like Sakhee appreciated the underfoot conditions, was in no mood to surrender the lead, and despite Hills' urgings Sakhee was still one length adrift at the line with Italian challenger Sunstrach a further two lengths back in third.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford was clearly disappointed and said: 'Obviously we don't like to see the horse beaten. That was below his best. He needed to win to take him forward. We'll have to take him back home and see if we can come up with something.'
William Hill responded to Sakhee's defeat by pushing him out to 11-2 for a repeat of last year's victory in the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe in October.
Coral have eased him to 8-1 from 4-1 for the French event while Wellbeing has been introduced to the market at 20-1.á Italian visitor Sunstrach took third, two lengths further back.
Hills had earlier stormed home in the Listed Prix Ridgeway on Richard Hannon's Irish Derby fourth Nysaean, who ran out the five length winner of this 10-furlong contest from Tripat.
