Godolphin rolled back into action after a temporary lull when Bachir seized France's equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas (Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains) at Longchamp yesterday. However, favourite Monashee Mountain, trained by Aidan O'Brien, hung badly left in the closing stages and finished well back in fifth.

Bachir, ridden by Frankie Dettori, moved to the front with more than a furlong to go and stretched away to defeat Berine's Son by one and a half lengths. The winner may now run in the Irish equivalent at the end of the month.

O'Brien had better luck in the first Group One race on the card, the Prix Lupin, won by Ciro and he now joins stablemate Aristotle as a possible for the Epsom Derby after his three-quarters of a length defeat of Kutub.