Bright Sky wins at Deauville

Bright Sky handed Six Perfections her third straight heartbreaking defeat Sunday as she came late to take the Group 2 Prix d'Astarte at Deauville.

Six Perfections had run into trouble over similar straight miles as runner-up in both the 1000 Guineas and the Irish 1000 Guineas. This time she had a clear run to lead at the furlong pole, only to have Bright Sky reel her in near the line under a well-judged ride from Dominique Boeuf. Bright Sky got the mile in 1:37.40 on good to soft ground as the 5-1 second choice.

The winner last year of the 1 5/16-mile French Oaks and the 1 1/4-mile Prix de l'Opera, Bright Sky is an Irish-bred daughter of Wolfhound, winner of the Group 1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup.

Bright Sky's trainer, Elie Lellouche, said that she will be kept to a mile for the time being. A rematch with Six Perfections could materialize in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Aug. 17, but Lellouche suggested that the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 7 is more likely.

* Trainer Michael Stoute on Monday ruled out any attempt at the Breeders' Cup for Russian Rhythm, his 1000 Guineas champ, who won the Group 1, 1 1/4-mile Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.