RACING: Elusive city maintained his unbeaten record at Deauville yesterday to lead home a British one-two in the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere.

But connections of the Gerard Butler-trained colt had to survive anxious moments at the start as he looked for a while as if he would refuse to enter the stalls for the Group One feature.

However, the French handlers persuaded him otherwise and he was produced to perfection by Kieren Fallon just over a furlong from home to throw down the gauntlet to Mick Channon's Zafeen, who had taken it up from long-time leader Ela Merici.

Fallon's mount took a while to hit top gear but was well on top at the finish to record his third victory in a row. He was immediately trimmed to 20 to 1 for the English 2,000 Guineas by Ladbrokes.

"The ground looked a little bit on the dead side and I think Elusive City was struggling on that ground. I think we would have seen a better turn of foot on faster ground," said Willie Carson, European racing manager for the colt's owners, Thoroughbred Corporation.