THERE were three group contests in ParisLongchamp at the weekend, with some good quality horses in action.

The Aga Khan Stud’s filly Rayevka went off favourite for the five-furlong Prix du Petit Couvert, but she could only manage third place. The winner was the Katie Scott-trained Naana’s Shadow, who fairly scooted away to win by a length and three-quarters under Tony Piccone and is one not to dismiss going up in grade, such is the current sprinting division.

Scott was celebrating a career first at group level with the daughter of Havana Grey, who should not be dismissed if turning up in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Michael O’Callaghan saddled the favourite Bamako Beach for the Group 3 Dubai Racing Carnival Prix du Pin over seven furlongs, but the dual winner hung badly left and headed over a furlong out under Pierre-Charles Boudot and finished last of the seven.

The eight-year-old Fort Payne kept up the good recent run of veterans in French group races, when streaking up the rail for trainer Nicolas Caullery to land the contest under Christophe Soumillon.

The Andre and Lavinia Fabre-trained four-year-old Phineas took his winning run to four for the season, with a smooth success in the 10-furlong Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange, with Maxime Guyon allowing himself a long look over at the big screens on the way to victory over Herbal by three and a half lengths with the Aga Khan’s Daryzan, Daryz’s half-brother in third.

The Wertheimer et Frere’s Lope De Vega gelding is on the up, but would need to be supplemented for the Champions Stakes at Ascot, a possible target.