Sagacity is defeated by filly

Sagacity failed in his Dubai Sheema Classic prep at Saint-Cloud Saturday as he was beaten a length by Jomana in the Group 3 Prix Exbury.

But the defeat of Sagacity, third in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has not dissuaded trainer Andre Fabre from his plan of sending him to Dubai. Sagacity was not given a hard time in the Exbury which, at 1 1/4 miles, is two furlongs short of his best distance.

With his regular jockey, Olivier Peslier, riding in Japan, Sagacity was piloted by Mathias Sautjeau. Sagacity led at the five-sixteenths pole but was overtaken by the 7-1 Jomana at the eighth pole. Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall for Sheikh Mohammed and ridden by Olivier Placais, Jomana was clocked in 2:14.40 on heavy ground. She will go next in the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp on March 31.