Victory Note takes Guineas

Victory note gave Peter Chapple-Hyam well deserved Classic success when springing a 25 to 1 upset in the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas, at Longchamp yesterday.

The Manton trainer has had to suffer the loss of a number of Classic prospects to the Godolphin operation including Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner, Cape Verdi. The Greenham Stakes winner amply justified his 100,000 francs (over £10,000) supplementary fee by proving the only colt capable of mastering John Gosden's pacescorching Muhtathir.

The latter looked to have burned of all his rivals, until Victory Note came sailing through from last place under John Reid to grab the glory by a decisive half length in the last 100 yards.

The pair were four lengths clear of David Loder's Desert Prince, with Barry Hills's La-Faah completing a big-priced British clean sweep in fourth.

Co-owned by Robert Sangster and Mrs Susan Magnier, Victory Note, originally thought to be more of a sprinting type, is now likely to head for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With the ground riding on the fast side of good, it was inevitable that a new course record of 1min 34.50 secs was set.

With The Flow (ninth) proved a major disappointment in a race in which Loudeac, another leading Gallic fancy, was a non-runner.

The Aga Khan filly Zalaiyka continues from strength-to-strength and this was borne out in the the French 1,000 Guineas, the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The favourite sat handily in second behind La Nuit Rose before streaking away in the last quarter mile to a four lengths win over Cortona.

Zalaiyka holds entries in both the Prix de Diane and the Coronation Stakes and connections will mull matters over before deciding between Chantilly or Royal Ascot.

Godolphin's La Nuit Rose (third) and Alec Stewart's Elshaams (fifth) both ran creditably, whereas Aidan O'Brien's Kincara Palace was last under Seamus Heffernan.

Croco Rouge followed up his Prix Greffulhe win by battling his way to a half length and a win over Daymarti and Special Quest in the Group One Prix Lupin.

Frankie Dettori, fourth on Godolphin's Mudder, was earlier handed a four-day ban and fined 2,000 francs for causing interference on Capital Prince in the opening Prix du Champ de Mars.

Capital Prince was later put back to fourth. Dettori will miss the classic trials meeting at Goodwood.

Robert Collet is thinking in terms of the King's Stand Stakes after Sainte Marine demolished Pas de Reponse by five lengths in the Prix de Saint-Georges.