Henrythenavigator finishes fifth as heavy favorite

Henrythenavigator was unable to cope with a phalanx of French fillies on Sunday as Goldikova beat him into fifth place in the $569,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

It was the first defeat this year for Henrythenavigator, the 11-10 favorite who had won four Group 1 miles since May.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien blamed the good to soft ground and the wide post 11 for the loss.

In victory, the Freddy Head-trained Goldikova was repeating her win over Darjina in the Prix Rothschild, prevailing this time by a half-length while getting the mile in 1:36.70 at odds of 3-1. Two-time Group 2 winner Paco Boy was third, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths.

Goldikova will now be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile, while Henrythenavigator goes in Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as a prep for either the Breeders' Cup Classic or the BC Mile.

* Team Valor's South African 3-year-old filly champion Captain's Lover made her French debut for Andre Fabre a winning one at Longchamp as she sped to a three-quarter length victory over Spirito del Vento in the seven-furlong, Group 3 Prix du Pin.

Absent for eight months, the 8-1 Captain's Lover was timed in 1:20.30 and will go next in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, a seven-furlong race at Longchamp, on Oct. 4.