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Anna put in her place
Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova proved a bitter disappointment as outsider AvantiPolonia sprung a surprise in the Group Two Prix de Pomone at Deauville.
Held up at the rear by Davy Bonilla in the early stages, the Freddie Head-trained winner showed a smart change of gear to challenge Turfrose inside the final furlong and win a shade cosily.
Anna Pavlova, last of six in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last time, travelled well for a long way but failed to pick up at the business end and came home fifth.
Head went on to complete a quickfire double as crack sprinter Marchand D'Or secured his third successive victory in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest.
The five-year-old travelled ominously well throughout in the hands of Bonilla and took up the running over a furlong out.
African Rose put up stern resistance but Marchand D'Or found an extra gear inside the final 100 yards and came home with something to spare. Marchand D'Or was entering the history books by becoming the first horse to win three renewals of the Group One contest.
He was settled towards the rear in the early stages – and punters who had taken the 5-4 would have been sweating as he was trapped behind a wall of horses.
But his acceleration, so evident when he came from last to first in the July Cup at Newmarket last month, came into effect a furlong out as he flew home to register a fourth top-flight success. African Rose stayed on for second, while 100-1 outsider Belliflore was third.
Fahey's Utmost Respect ran a cracking race under Paul Hanagan and galloped on strongly for fourth.
TODAY'S BEST
DUKE'S DOUBLE
Jaconet (7.30 Thirsk), nap and Haven't A Clue (3.30 Wolverhampton).
DUKE'S TREBLE
Jaconet, Haven't A Clue and Swords (4.30 Wolverhampton).
JULIUS'S DOUBLE
Zilcash (2.45 Southwell), nap and Devinius (6.30 Thirsk).
FORMNAP
Zilcash (2.45 Southwell).
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
