Sageburg defeats Darjina

Sageburg upset the odds-on Darjina in the Group 1, $386,000 Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp on Sunday, catching her inside the final furlong to score the first group race victory of his career.

Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, Sageburg was dismissed at 10.90-1 while his stablemate Darjina was backed down to 4-5. A non-staying second to Jay Peg in the 1 1/8-mile Dubai Duty Free on March 29, Darjina just failed to stay this 1 1/8 miles, 55 yards. Having led briefly at the eighth-pole, she was reeled in by Sageburg and his red-hot rider, Olivier Peslier, 150 yards from the line. Recently third in the Group 1 Prix Ganay, Sageburg drew clear for a 2 1/2-length victory, clocking 1:53.70 for the distance on good to soft ground.

Royer-Dupre said that both horses will be pointed for races at Royal Ascot - Sageburg in the 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales's Stakes, Darjina in the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes.

The big Ispahan disappointment was Literato. Last year's Champion Stakes winner, he came home dead last in his second start for Godolphin, following a dull 12th in the Dubai Duty Free.