Sosie's late surge denies Sardinian Warrior in Prix d'Ispahan

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Sardinian Warrior (2/1) was stepping up to Group 1 level for the first time in his career after a Listed triumph at Ascot last month, and things were looking promising as he took over from front-running Caramelito with two furlongs to travel in the home straight.

However, Andre Fabre's four-year-old Sosie, winner of the Prix Ganay on his comeback and sent off the 8/11 favourite despite tackling a shorter trip on this occasion, was beginning to find his stride on the outside under Maxime Guyon.

Sardinian Warrior stayed on admirably for pressure in the closing stages but Guyon always seemed fairly confident he could pick the British raider up, and Sosie ultimately won going after after collaring the runner-up inside the last furlong.

Horizon Dore (8/1), at the back of the field in the early stages, ran on for third when it was all over and Roger Varian's Elmalka - winner of last year's 1000 Guineas - was back in fourth at 18/1 under Silvestre De Sousa.

Paddy Power make Sosie an 8/1 shot for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on July 5 and 10/1 for the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe in early-October.

Fabre said on Sky Sports Racing: "The Wertheimer brothers were keen to run him in the Eclipse so we had to try him at a shorter distance.

"I was delighted, for a horse who is able to run a mile and a half and over, he has speed enough to beat some nice horses. It was the best (outcome) we could expect."

Winning jockey Guyon said: "He was fantastic. OK, he was a little bit lazy, but he was really strong for the finish. He proved that he can do everything (distances), that he's a real Group 1 horse and a real champion."

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