THE French were completely engulfed by the English in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte last Sunday.

The visitors took the first three places in the Group 2 contest which went to Al Shaqab Racing’s Gutaifan in the hands of Frankie Dettori. They just held on to defeat Ajaya and Christophe Soumillon by a head and Areen ran on one-paced with Graham Lee to finish two lengths away third.

The favourite Venecia Style came next but she was under pressure some way before the finish.

For Richard Hannon, it was a back-to-back victory in the most important juvenile race to have been run in France so far this season. A year ago he had greeted Kool Kompany in the winner’s enclosure. For Dettori, it was his first win in the Papin and he was always well up with the pace on Gutaifan from their wide outside draw.

They disputed the lead throughout the five and a half furlongs with Ajaya who was raced near the rail. He finished the best of all and in a few more strides may well have ended up with the winner’s purse.

GUTSY

Gutaifan is a gutsy individual and all his three wins have been by a head or less.

When Dettori jumped off the winner, he said: “I like this colt a lot. He has been working well and has improved during the past two months. He loved the cut in the ground and it was my first Papin so I’m happy. A colt of quality whose next race must be a Group 1.”

Hannon commented: “We have always liked the colt who was bought by Peter and Ross Doyle. Once again, they have done a brilliant job. We would have to think about the Prix Morny now that he has won a Group 2.”

Racing manager Harry Herbert added: “Gutaifan was impressive and we’ve been waiting for his ground which he had today. Richard Hannon is thinking about the Morny but we must see how Shalaa goes in the Richmond Stakes. Gutaifan is a six-furlong horse so we asked Frankie to go in front and he rode a fine race.”

The son of Dark Angel caught the eye of the Doyles at the Goffs sale in November 2013. They picked him up as a foal for €75,000 and he was in a consignment from the Abbeville and Meadow Court Stud.

Ajaya should make it at group level and he has been entered in the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes at York. Venecia Style lost her unbeaten record and Philippe Sogorb said: “I am disappointed as I really thought she would win today. She was beaten by some hardened campaigners and the race was run with pace like in England. It was to be the Morny but now we must change plans.”

Maybe the Prix du Calvados at Deauville would fit the bill. The Italian filly and Prix du Bois winner Fly On The Night finished fifth.

Another performance worth noting at Maisons-Laffitte was put up by Maimara in the Listed Prix de Bagatelle.

The daughter of Makfi, a €65,000 foal at the Arqana December sale in 2012, was not stretched and will now be aimed by Mikel Delzangles at the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey at Deauville although she has been entered in the Beverly D at Arlington Park the same day.

Mille Et Mille landed the Listed Prix du Carrousel and he now heads for the Prix Gladiateur, Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak.

GREY LION

André Fabre’s one-time Derby possible Grey Lion made a winning return to action on Tuesday at Chantilly when winning a conditions race over 10 furlongs under Maxime Guyon.