PLEASCACH ran a fantastic race after a 386-day absence to just lose out to Speedy Boarding in the Longines-sponsored Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Chantilly.

Jemayel took the field along early, but was soon passed by Jim Bolger's Pleascach, making her first appearance since finishing fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes over a year ago. She remained in the lead rounding the home turn, but was soon pressed by Speedy Boarding and the pair engaged in a pulsating duel.

Frankie Dettori had to sit and suffer on the rail as he waited for the gap to come aboard favourite So Mi Dar and when it did, his mount took a stride or two to fully engage top gear. It was too late as the front pair were clear and as they flashed by the post, it was Speedy Boarding who had her nose in front.

Bolger said of the Godolphin-owned Pleascach: "She has run extremely well and might not be finished for the season. Let's see what Sheikh Mohammed wants to do because I go in the same direction as he does."

A glorious retirement now appears on the cards for the winner, who was following up her Prix Jean Romanet victory, with trainer James Fanshawe saying: "She'll probably go to stud now. Ascot will come too soon for her and this will be her final year."

He added: "It was a brilliant race and there didn't deserve to be a loser. She's so tough and has been a wonderful filly for the yard. She raised her game again after the Romanet and really battled."

Trainer John Gosden indicated So Mi Dar could have another run this season. He said: "She got knocked back early in the race and got out to make her run late and it was too late. Let's see how she is and then make a plan."

Her owner Lady Lloyd Webber added: "She loved the ground, but was all over the place and got in a terrible muddle. It just shows how hard Group 1s are to win."

GROUP 1 PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC

Wuheida stuck to her guns to claim victory in a British and Irish-dominated finish to the Total Prix Marcel Boussac. The Charlie Appleby-trained filly lined up in the Group 1 contest on the back of a debut success at Newmarket in early August and was a 10-1 shot in the hands of William Buick.

John Gosden's Dabyah, also a winner on her Newmarket introduction before an impressive display at Newbury, took the field along for much of the one-mile journey under Frankie Dettori, but Wuheida tracked her every move.

Dabyah briefly looked to have cut loose when kicking a couple of lengths clear in the straight, but Wuheida stuck to her task and got up to score decisively. Aidan O'Brien's Promise To Be True came home well to narrowly beat Dabyah to the runner-up spot.

Appleby said: "We did not expect her to win like that, but we knew stepping up to a mile was the way forward. She saw out that trip well, and I've always thought of her as an Oaks filly. The further she goes, the better she'll be."

He added: "It's Dubawi's first Group 1 winner as a two-year-old, so that's such a nice feather in the cap. It was a fantastic ride by William. We thought Frankie would be on the front end and try to dictate (on Dabyah), so we were always going to be positive."

O'Brien said of the runner-up: "She's still a bit of a baby, but she's run very well. My first reaction is not to take her to the Breeders' Cup and to leave her and wait for next year."

Gosden felt Dabyah just found the petrol tank emptying close home. He said: "A great run, but she was quite keen from that draw and she has got the seven and a half but not the mile. Making so much use of her just told in the end and we will call it a draw for the year."

GROUP 1 PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE

National Defense produced a dominant front-running display to claim the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Criquette Head-Maarek's juvenile bolted up on his Deauville debut in August, but after being beaten into third place in a Group 3 over this course and distance last month, he was a 5-1 shot stepped up to the highest level.

Pierre-Charles Boudot sent his mount straight into a lead he never looked like relinquishing in the straight, finding another gear to leave his rivals trailing in his wake.

The sole British representative, Sylvester Kirk's Salouen, ran an excellent race to fill the runner-up spot. Aidan O'Brien's Whitecliffsofdover was third, but his stable companion Utah was well beaten.

GROUP 1 PRIX DE L'ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP

Marsha claimed Group 1 glory for Sir Mark Prescott in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye. Twice a winner at listed level earlier in the year, the three-year-old filly was last seen finishing second to the reopposing Just Glamorous in a Group 3 over this course and distance three weeks ago.

Just as he had that day, the Ron Harris-trained Just Glamorous attempted to make all the running, but he was a spent force heading inside the last of five furlongs as dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel and King's Stand winner Profitable moved to the front.

That pair briefly looked like fighting out the finish, but the Elite Racing Club-owned Marsha (16-1) came from further back to beat both in the hands of Luke Morris. Washington DC finished powerfully to beat Mecca's Angel to the runner-up spot, with Profitable weakening out of contention.

Morris said: "The boss had freshened her up for this, we've always had high hopes for her and this is the icing on the cake."

Brian Pothecary was representing the 10,000-strong members of the Elite Racing Club, and said: "I'm very lucky to represent Elite here today, as one of three coachloads of owners who were selected by ballot to attend. I doubt whether she will run again this year and I very much hope she stays in training as a four-year-old."

Michael Dods will take his time before committing Mecca's Angel to what would be the final start of her career in the British Champions Sprint on October 15.

He said: "She's run a good race. I'm not using the ground as an excuse. I don't think she likes to be crowded, and maybe that had something to do with it.

"We'll see how she comes home, we'll give her the full week to get home and relax and then we'll decide about Ascot. If she is in good form and has a good week the following week we'll seriously think about Champions Day. I'd love to see her over six furlongs at some stage."