Dabirsim (left) could return to action at Longchamp on Sunday
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Old rivals Dabirsim and Sofast stand ground
France: Dabirsim looks likely to face his fiercest rival from last season on Sunday, when Europe's joint top-rated juvenile is due to make his reappearance at Longchamp.
Dabirsim (Christophe Ferland) rounded off a stellar juvenile campaignwhen denying Sofast (Freddy Head) by three-quarters of a length in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.
The pair feature among 12 entries which remain after the first forfeit stage for the Prix de Fontainebleau.
"Dabirsim is a very good horse but last time [in the Lagardere] he only just beat Sofast, who needs a more searching test and I think was a little unfortunate," said Head.
The former Jessica Harrington inmate Dragon Pulse, now with Mikel Delzangles, also stands his ground at this stage, while Aidan O'Brien has four possibles remaining in the Fontainebleau, headed by Middle Park Stakes hero Crusade.
Ballydoyle also have four fillies entered for the Prix de la Grotte on the same Longchamp card, including Up, a 40-1 shot for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas.
Head is looking forward to running Zantenda in the race, a filly who was third behind Elusive Kate when sent off favourite for the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
"She ran well in the Prix Marcel Boussac and I think she would have finished closer if she'd had horses to race against," Head concluded.
The Elie Lellouche-trained Beauty Parlour could seek to extend her unbeaten record when tackling Group company for the first time.
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