Further misery for Dettori as Al Naamah flops

Yesterday’s Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly was due to be a warm-up for Al Naamah ahead of next month’s Prix Marcel Boussac but Al Shaqab Racing might have a different contender altogether after pacemaker Shahah caused a mighty turn-up.

Al Naamah, who cost a record-breaking five million guineas as a yearling, had made such an encouraging debut at the course in late June that she had been promoted to ante-post favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

Bidding to improve Frankie Dettori’s fortunes after he lost the ride on Arc winner Treve to Thierry Jarnet, the Italian initially looked to be going reasonably well in the mile Group Three race, but hopes started to fade inside the final two furlongs with Andre Fabre’s second string Shahah still holding a comfortable advantage.