Sakhee Defeated by Wellbeing in Comeback Race

Sakhee, running his first race since the Dubai World Cup in March, finished a disappointing second to Wellbeing in the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Byron at Deauville on Saturday.

Last year's Arc winner, ridden by Richard Hills in the absence of regular partner Frankie Dettori through chicken pox, sat prominently in the early stages of his comeback race behind his pacemaker Sydenham, ridden by Ted Durcan, and King of Tara under Christophe Lemaire.
   
The two pacesetters were overhauled at the three-furlong pole, leaving Sakhee and Wellbeing at the head of affairs. The pair pulled clear of the third horse, Sunstrach, and Wellbeing found more for Thierry Thulliez than Sakhee did for Hills to score by a length.
   
The Pascal Bary-trained winner Wellbeing was formerly trained by Henry Cecil and came fifth in the Vodafone Derby when Sakhee was second to Sinndar.
   
Paddy Power reacted by pushing Sakhee's odds for the Arc at Longchamp in October from 4-1 to 13-2, and cutting those of High Chaparral from 11-4 to 5-2.