Europe: Amonita blows chance for Cup

Amonita's chance for a place in the Breeders' Cup Mile lineup went down the drain at Longchamp when she finished fifth to Mount Abu in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

An Anabaa filly, Amonita weakened through the final quarter of the seven-furlong Group 1 race crossing the line 4 1/4 lengths behind the 16.70-1 winner, Mount Abu, who reveled in the very soft ground.

A 4-year-old son of Foxhound trained by John Gosden, Mount Abu caught eventual runner-up China Visit at the quarter pole to record a two-length victory, getting the seven furlongs in 1:22.90. Gosden said that Mount Abu, previously second to Nuclear Debate in the six-furlong Group 1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup, would be aimed at the Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 16.

* Slickly gave the red-hot Godolphin team another Group 1 triumph with an easy six-length win at 1-5 in the one-mile Premio Vittorio di Capua in Milan. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Slickly, a Linamix 5-year-old, won his third in a row when he gave Dane Friendly, As You Like It, and Faberger a thrashing. Slickly was coming off a big three-length victory over Breeders' Cup-bound Banks Hill in the one-mile Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, and although Godolphin has no plans for him at the moment, a tilt at the Hong Kong Mile seems in order.

* Aidan O'Brien remains in form as well. On Sunday he sent out Castle Gandolfo to take the one-mile Group 3 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh by a widening seven lengths from stablemate Camp David. At even-money, Castle Gandolfo, a Kentucky-bred son of Gone West, was running for the first time since taking a six-furlong maiden at Cork on April 28.