Success for Brunel was bolt from the blue

BRUNEL landed a share of first prize in the Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp yesterday after lightning knocked out the photo-finish equipment.

The William Haggas-trained colt, ridden by Darryll Holland, was adjudged to have dead-heated with the filly Coupe De Champe in the Group Three contest.

The result was something of a surprise to racegoers as the French challenger appeared to the naked eye and on TV replays to have got up in the dying strides.