France well beaten on reappearance Miss France, ante-post favourite for the Qipco 1000 Guineas, could only finish sixth behind Xcellence in the Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte. Touched off in a Group Three last year, the Francois Doumen-trained Xcellence, who races in the silks made famous by Kasbah Bliss, was a surprise winner of the Guineas trial, that had been billed as a head-to-head between Andre Fabre's Miss France and Vorda, winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Vorda was in the prime position just behind the leader as they went a pedestrian early gallop, and Maxime Guyon struggled to get Miss France settled at the back, and she was caught flat-footed for a few strides once Vorda kicked clear. Fabre's inmate finally got going close home, by which time Cristian Demuro had pulled Xcellence out to challenge Vorda and quickened up nicely to take the Group Three in some style. Charm Spirit just edged out Kiram in a blanket finish to the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte. Kiram was sent off favourite on the PMU having won his final three races as a two-year-old for Jean-Claude Rouget and a gap opened up beautifully for Christophe Soumillon on the rail. However, the Freddy Head-trained Invincible Spirit colt Charm Spirit brought the best juvenile form to the table, having finished a two-length third to Karakontie in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last season, and he made his challenge down the middle of the track. Bookrunner and Imperiator were also involved in the finish and less than a length separated the first four, with Charm Spirit taking top honours by a short head.
