Music Lover proves a heavy duty hit

Music Lover proved ideally equipped to deal with ground described officially as very heavy when running down favourite Listen In under Alexis Roussel to land the Listed Prix Rose de Mai over a mile on Saturday, the first black-type race of the season at Saint-Cloud.

Trainer Antoine de Watrigant - who achieved international recognition recently with Gailo Chop - would have been delighted to see the recent rain in Paris for the daughter of Palace Episode.

"I have had this race in mind for her since last autumn, when she ran right away from her field on terrible ground," said Watrigant. "She got to the front a little bit too soon in the Prix Policeman at Cagnes last time but back on the turf today I was quite confident. She has won well there but I think heavy ground is a big plus for her."

Freddy Head was happy enough with Listen In, who tired noticeably in the final furlong and was overtaken close home by Mademoiselle Marie.

Kourkan confirms talent

The Mick Channon-trained Czabo proved unable to shake off the rust after a nine month absence, finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Listed Prix Altipan.

Kourkan justified favouritism under Christophe Soumillon and will now be aimed at the Prix Edmond Blanc back over course and distance next month, a race which this season carries automatic entry to both the Bet365 Mile and the Duke of Cambridge Stakes for the first four home.

Winning trainer Jean-Marie Beguigne said: "The horse confirmed the good form of his three-year-old season and he has grown over the winter. He did it quite easily in the end and that is exactly what you want for a comeback run."