MORE classic trials at Maisons-Laffitte on Wednesday – the Prix Djebel (for colts) and the Prix Imprudence (for fillies), both Group 3s over a straight seven furlongs.

Again the boys went rather quicker than the girls but the results were far from conclusive, especially in the Djebel where it took more than 10 minutes for the judge to decide that Munitions, representing Fabre and Godolphin, had beaten Graignes by the narrowest of margins.

“We all thought that he had been beaten, including Mickael (Barzalona, the jockey), so this is a bit of a surprise,” Lisa-Jane Graffard, Godolphin’s racing manager, said afterwards. “Plans are very much up in the air for him, but we may end up dropping him back in trip rather than going for the Poule.” Graignes, however, will head for the classic.

TROUBLED

Fabre had to settle for second with Suphala in the Imprudence, doing well to overcome both the slow pace and troubled passage to come from the rear and score by a short-neck and give her sire, Olympic Glory, a first pattern success.

“I’ve always thought a lot of this filly, otherwise I would never have run her in a listed race last season when she was still a maiden,” trainer Francis Graffard said. “I think she’ll stay, as her dam is by Galileo, and she will now go for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.”