Sottsass comeback party spoiled by Skalleti but Rouget keeps the faith

The remarkably consistent Skalleti and Pierre-Charles Boudot got the better of Sottsass in an attritional Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club but trainer Jean-Claude Rouget expressed himself content with the performance of last year's Arc third.

Sottsass was conceding 6lb to the winner and Paddy Power reacted by pushing him out to 16-1 from 12-1 for the Arc on the back of the neck defeat.

Rouget said: "He has run a good race giving away three kilograms to a good horse and we knew beforehand it would be a tough ask. This sets him up for the autumn.

"In principle it will be the Irish Champion Stakes and then the Arc."

Sottsass showed a good attitude without Cristian Demuro throwing everything at him, and although the final three furlongs of the Gontaut-Biron were were run 0.9 seconds slower than Mishriff earlier, his effort came under 9st 6lb and off much stronger early fractions.

Skalleti could head to Longchamp for a repeat attempt in the Group 2 Prix Dollar, although trainer Jerome Reynier hopes to upgrade that to a Group 1 before season's end for a horse he refuses to pigeonhole as a soft-ground specialist.

"Obviously he handles these conditions but he's not limited to running well on soft ground and has won on good," said Reynier. "I'm sure Sottsass wasn't at 100 per cent today but I can assure you my horse was well below being fully tuned up as well.

"He is complicated at home but he has an unbelievable record and has now won 11 out of his 14 races. I would love to win a Group 1 with him this autumn, either in France or perhaps in the Champion Stakes."

Irska dashed the hopes of a trio of British-trained fillies when landing the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey over a mile for jockey Hugo Journiac and trainer Markus Nigge.

Irska with Hugo Journiac and trainer Markus Nigge (far right) after winning the Prix de Lieurey at DeauvilleCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"She pulled quite hard over further at Longchamp last time and paid for that at the finish," said Nigge. "It was Hugo's idea to come back in trip to see if she really had the pace to be competitive at this level.

"There were other horses in the field who were proven at this level and we've been beaten in Listed races so our main hope was that she didn't waste her energy early on.

"Hugo took her back early and she had enough left to finish in great style."

Godolphin's Althiqua led home Cloak Of Spirits and Fooraat in an all-British battle for the minor money.

"We were very pleased with the performance of Althiqa, who has improved with every run this season," said Charlie Appleby. "She stayed the mile well today, which opens up a few options and hopefully we can win a nice Group race with her at some point."

Deauville results and analysis

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