Racing:Alain De Royer-Dupre confirmed that star filly Mandesha will not take part in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and will instead go for the Prix de l'Opera on the same card.
Royer-Dupre had been mulling over whether or not to allow the three-year-old take her chance in the showpiece since her impressive victory in the Prix Vermeille.
But as connections stated their desire to keep the filly in training as a four-year-old, they have decided against taking on older horses like Deep Impact, Hurricane Run and Shirocco this year.
"She is a filly we really like a lot," said De Royer-Dupre, who will still be represented by Pride in the Arc. "But we want to keep her in training as a four-year-old when the Arc will then be her target."
The decision not to supplement the Desert Style filly has now cleared the way for Christophe Soumillon to partner Andre Fabre's Shirocco.
As Soumillon has a retainer with the Aga Khan, whose daughter owns Mandesha, he would have been obliged to partner the two-time Group One winner - leaving the ride on Shirocco up for grabs.
Mandesha is now in line to take on the likes of Alexandrova, Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun in the 10-furlong Prix de l'Opera at the weekend.