Arc third Sottsass only fourth in Prix d'Harcourt as Shaman makes all for Guyon

Favourite backers were back in the cold showers an hour after Victor Ludorum's odds-on defeat as Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass could manage only fourth behind all-the-way winner Shaman.

Sottsass was making his reappearance after finishing third to Waldgeist and Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and, despite moving ominously well turning into the straight, Cristian Demuro found little response when he asked the son of Siyouni for his effort.

Jean-Claude Rouget might have feared as much after Helter Skelter had earlier failed to make an impact in the Prix de Fontainebleau and after the eclipse of Sottsass the trainer told Equidia: "In view of how they have run today my horses are not yet ready. Sottsass will be back here in a month's time for the Prix de Ganay."

Shaman was tackling a mile and a quarter for the first time but Maxime Guyon rode him like a man who had little doubt in his partner's stamina and the pair held off Way To Paris and Simona for a hard-fought success.

"It's true there was a tiny doubt about his stamina but he had won over 1,800 metres [1m2f] and he's a long-striding horse. He's very tough and never looked like cracking," said Guyon.

Paddy Power make Shaman a 4-1 chance for the Prix Ganay next month, while the son of the late Shamardal was introduced as a 33-1 chance to give trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias a second Arc triumph in October, though he is not thinking that far ahead for now.

Shaman has long been considered a Group 1 winner in waiting by his trainer, Carlos Laffon-PariasCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Heading in the opposite direction is Sottsass, who is now 20-1 for Europe's richest race with Coral, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.

Laffon-Parias was convinced he had a Group 1 horse on his hands last season and will attempt to convert that potential at the earliest opportunity.

Full result

"Last year he showed he stayed nearly 1,800 metres [a mile and a furlong] but the programme in France was better if we kept him to a mile," said Laffon-Parias. "Today was the day to really find out if he stays and I didn't have much option in terms of race to run him in.

"The choice now is for races like the Ganay or the Prix d'Ispahan. He is an imposing horse and is very well bred so we need to try and crack on with him and win a Group 1."

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