Aidan O'Brien's Lavery was a shade unlucky in running when only 10th in the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp yesterday. The race won in impressive fashion by the Aga Khan's Sendawar.

A false start had to be called when the stall holding Mark Prescott's Triple Dash failed to open. Once the race did get under way it fell to the strongly fancied Sendawar, who was providing the Aga Khan and trainer Alain Royer-Dupre with their third victory in the race in the last four years.

Michael Kinane, Lavery's rider, was later banned two days on a careless riding charge, but he had better luck when he rode O'Brien's smart sprinter, Black Rock Desert (104-10), to an impressive two and a half lengths win in the Group Three Prix de SaintGeorges (5f).

Valentine Waltz, whom O'Brien trained as a juvenile, swept to victory in the in the Dubai Poule D'Essai Pouliches (1,000 Guineas) for the John Gosden stable.

Valentine Waltz, a creditable fourth in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, was providing Britain with its first win in the race since Culture Vulture in 1992.

"They went a cracking pace and I liked the way she won," said Gosden. "Avoiding soft ground is the key with her and it came just right today.

"She ran a grand race in the Guineas from a terrible draw but this is a great compliment to Wince. She is a tough little thing to come back and run like this after her hard race in the Guineas.

"The Coronation Stakes is a likely target for her now as long as the ground is good or good to firm."

Montjeu'S shock defeat in the Group One Prix Lupin failed to clarify an already hazy Derby picture. The hotpot was beaten a length by Gracioso in a four-runner race, having previously beaten the winner five lengths in the Group Two Prix Greffulhe.

Not that Montjeu is certain to go to Epsom, as the French Derby continues to remain an alternative option. Part-owner Michael Tabor said: "That wasn't his form."