Goldikova foiled by Ascot winner Immortal Verse

Report: France, Monday

Deauville: Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques le Marois (Group 1) 1m, 3yo+

GOLDIKOVA was denied a 15th Group 1 success in the Prix Jacques le Marois by the Robert Collet-trained Immortal Verse (Gerald Mosse), who was following up hersuccess in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The victory continued the red-hot form of Tom Segal, who made Immortal Verse his 16-1 Pricewise selection in Monday's Racing Post.

Beaten in this race last year, Goldikova was not helped by her wide draw in stall 11, with regular jockey Olivier Peslier left with little option but to drop her in towards the rear of the field as her two pacemakers, Flash Dance and Polemique, ensured it was a truly run race.

When asked for her effort, the three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner was forced even wider by the wandering Planteur but still held every chance passing the furlong marker.

However, she could not match the impressive change of speed showed by Immortal Verse who, despite having the benefit of racing towards the inside from stall six, also had to make up significant ground from the rear.

Gerald Mosse ensured supermare Goldikova would not record a second victory in the race, following her 2009 success, by riding the improving three-year-old through the line to record an impressive fourth victory from only seven starts.

Winning trainer Robert Collet described Immortal Verse as "out of the ordinary" and has not ruled out a return trip to Ascot to face the mighty Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He said: “She proved again what I’ve always known, that she is a super filly. 

"She had a little problem after the Coronation at Ascot as she fell in the yard and had to miss the Rothschild. This filly is out of the ordinary and she’s entered in all the top events, including the QEII.”

Mosse added: “Full marks to Robert Collet. He said after Ascot she’d win the Marois. She worked very well before the race but it was difficult to believe before the race that we could beat a great filly like Goldikova and she won so easily, with plenty in hand. She just needed four strides before dominating the race.”

Freddy Head, trainer of Goldikova, took the defeat on the chin, saying: "There are no real excuses but she is a six-year-old now."

Peslier added: “We were beaten by a very good filly and maybe 15 days was a bit quick between races.”

Despite the presence of many of Europe’s leading colts - including Cityscape, Planteur, Dick Turpin and Mutual Trust – the race was dominated by the fairer sex, with Sahpresa, who was also held up in the early exchanges, finishing powerfully to complete a one-two-three for fillies and mares.

Of third-place Sahpresa, trainer Rod Collet said: “It was a little bit softer than she likes but we are happy to be closer than at Ascot this time.”

Dick Turpin, representing Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes, fared best of the British challenge but was well beaten in seventh, one place ahead of the Roger Charlton-trained Cityscape.

However, Richard Hannon jnr was far from disappointed with Dick Turpin's performance, saying: “He ran a great race but we have to give the three-year-old fillies a bit of weight and they are very good.

"He confirmed his form with Cityscape andis back to his best.”

Two-year-old Rockinante ensured it was not a wasted journey for Hannon and Hughes,making just about all to score in the Listed Prix Francois Boutin later on the card.

Hannon said: "We bought him from here, and so he gets the bonus, and it's great because we bought him for races like this.

"The Jean-luc Lagadere would be a possibility for him. I'm not sure if he's in the Mill Reef, but we'll look at all the big races over seven furlongs or a mile towards the end of the season, he looks up to it.

"The one thing we didn't want to do was set the race up for them, but Hughesy quite rightly let him stride on when there was no pace, and he was good enough to hold them off."