THE last main meeting at Maisons-Laffitte on Tuesday was dominated by horses trained in the French Provinces and England.

The Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte went in excellent style to the Tim Easterby-trained Mattmu who dominated the six-furlong race from the start in the hands of David Allan.

The pair spent the final furlong fending off the persistent challenge of Queen Bee which they did by a length.

The Irish challenger Shepherd’s Purse and Gary Carroll had a rough time after being hemmed in at a crucial moment two out before interference with a furlong left to run. They finally finished seventh while the hot favourite Shamal was virtually pulled up in ninth position after being well up until the two furlong post.

The other English runner Parsley from the Hannon stable, finished last and never seen with a chance.

Mattmu had good form at home having been never out of the first three in eight races and the winner of the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York before his trip to France.

Easterby reported: “He goes on all grounds and is just a very good horse. The colt has a lot of speed and we think he should stay seven furlongs.”

This being the case, it would be no surprise to see the son of Indesatchel back at Maisons-Laffitte for the Group 3 Prix Djebel next April.

The runner-up Queen Bee is a determined filly and she had previously won the Group 3 Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly while third-placed Goken won the Group 3 Prix du Bois so this form is worth respecting.

The 5/2 favourite Maarek was never out of the last three in the Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise and only a shadow of the horse who won the 2013 Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. Gammarth finished 18th on that occasion but was on form in the Seine-et-Oise which he won by three -quarters of a length from Caledonia Lady and Catcall who was runner-up tp Maarek in the Abbaye last year.

After being well up with the pace early on, the David Elsworth-trained Justice Day took seventh place with Maarek and Billy Lee 11th of the 13 runners.

Gammarth is now a course and distance winner on three occasions. He was winning his first group race although he had places in several similar contests at home and abroad.

It was not surprising that owner/breeder Gerard Mimouni commented: “He deserved this victory as he has been the bridesmaid on many occasions in similar events.”

Alex Pantall added: “I was a little worried about the heavy ground but Mickael Barzalona always had him in the right place at the right time.”

The Group 3 Prix Miesque went to Ameenah in the hands of Franck Blondel. Trained at Calas near Aix-en-Province by Jacques Rossi, the filly was winning her fourth race of the season and she was not extended to beat the favourite Night Of Light by two lengths.

She made her challenge entering the final furlong and quickened like a class act. She could be back over course and distance for the Group 3 Prix Imprudence in April.