RACING: Sulamani completed his preparation for next month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with an easy win in the Prix Neil at Longchamp. But the victory, which extended the French Derby winner's unbeaten sequence to four, came in controversial circumstances after a farcically slow early pace saw Sulamani greeted with a hail of boos as he returned to the winner's enclosure.

Indeed for the first half-mile of the Group Two race it was hard to tell if it had actually started and there was uncertainty over whether the three runners were trying to pull up after a false start.

Eventually Sulamani, who returned the 30 to 100 favourite, took up the running after about three furlongs but still the runners crept round Longchamp's turns at a snail's pace.

It wasn't until about two and a half furlongs from the finish that winning jockey Thierry Thulliez finally asked his partner to quicken up and although Sulamani's two rivals were closing a little at the finish, he held a two-length winning margin at the line.

Despite the chorus of catcalls which drowned out the presentation ceremony for the race, all parties expressed themselves happy with the outcome.

Alan Cooper, racing manager for Sulamani's owners the Niarchos Family, explained: "We always knew that the race would be complicated. The horse that we were going to run as a pacemaker, Volantes, was lame in his box on Wednesday night and so we weren't able to declare him on Thursday morning.

"I'm not surprised that the crowd are unhappy and it is unfortunate that the race went the way it did, but the main race is in three weeks' time.

"At least Thierry had the gumption to take the initiative and take the lead. He has run well and had a good bit of exercise."

Also set for a return trip to Paris in three weeks is Aquarelliste, who finished second to Sakhee in the race 12 months ago.

Having performed slightly indifferently this season, she returned to her best form to win the Prix Foy Gray d'Albion Barriere.