France: Dragon Pulse deal Darbirsim first defeat at Longchamp

Dabirsim suffered the first loss of his career when run down by Dragon Pulse in the late stages of the Group 3 Prix Fontainebleau on Sunday at Longchamp.

Five for five last year at age 2, when he was the co-top-weighted juvenile in Europe, Dabirsim was making his first start beyond seven furlongs Sunday while ridden for the first time by Christophe Soumillon. Perhaps a bit overeager in the early stages, Dabirsim took a clear lead into the final furlong, but Dragon Pulse, racing for the first time under the care of trainer Mickel Delzangles, finished strongly to get up by a nose. Freddie Head-trained Sofast finished another 2 ½ lengths back in third.

The top two are likely to meet again next month in the French 2000 Guineas.

Also on Sunday at Longchamp, the filly Beauty Parlor ran her career record to 3 for 3 winning the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte in her 3-year-old debut.

Up and down day for O’Brien in Ireland

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Homecoming Queen scored an upset win Sunday at Leopardstown in Ireland capturing the Group 3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial, but an O’Brien hopeful for the Epsom Derby, David Livingston, could only finish fourth in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes.

Homecoming Queen could make her next start in either the English or Irish 1000 Guineas, O’Brien said after Homecoming Queen had edged highly regarded Fire Lily by a neck. Up, another O’Brien charge, finished well to get third.

Light Heavy won the Ballysax, the third straight triumph in the race for trainer Jim Bolger, who said afterward that Light Heavy would be aimed at the Irish Derby rather than the English Derby. Light Heavy beat Call to Battle by 2 ½ lengths, with Tower Rock third.

O’Brien took down another first in the Group 3 2000 Guineas Trial as Furner’s Green defeated four foes in a likely prep for the English 2000 Guineas.