Sir Mark Prescott's Tiffany has to settle for second on her return to action as winner Sibayan is cut for Champions Day Group 1

Tiffany was placed at the highest level for the third time when chasing home hot favourite Sibayan in the Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne on Sunday.

Trained by Sir Mark Prescott and ridden by Luke Morris, Tiffany was returning from 322 days on the sidelines in her bid to make the breakthrough in Group 1 company, but she had no answer to Sibayan's sharp turn of foot in the closing stages. 

Representing the Aga Khan Studs, Sibayan had already scored twice at Group 2 level in France this season for trainer Francis Graffard and was given a confident ride from off the pace by Mickael Barzalona.

The 2-5 favourite swept down the outside in the home straight to win going away from Tiffany, who managed to edge past the pacesetting Columbus in the final stride to secure second at 4-1. 

"On paper he was the best horse in the race," said Barzalona. "The beginning of the race was messy and it took some time to decide where everyone was going to sit, but he picked up very well in the end." 

Tiffany, an Elite Racing Club homebred, was ridden prominently by Morris but was under pressure turning for home and never looked likely to collect a first Group 1.

She is entered in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 18, in which she finished third last season, while the Preis von Bayern could offer a final chance for Tiffany at the highest level before she heads to the December Mare Sale. She failed by a neck to win the Munich Group 1 contest last year.

Sibayan was cut to 3-1 (from 8) by Paddy Power for next month's Group 1 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.30 Ascot, October 18)
Paddy Power: 4-6 Trawlerman, 4 Sibayan, 8 Jan Brueghel, Illinois, 11 Al Riffa, 20 Al Qareem, Hamish, Lazy Griff, 25 bar.

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