Brilliant Millyant

Diffident, who finished sixth to Pennekamp in the 2,000 Guineas last month, was beaten by a nose into second place in the Group Two Prix du Petit Couvert at Chantilly yesterday.

Millyant took the honours in a thrilling finish. The judge took 15 minutes before announcing that the mare, trained at Newmarket by Rae Guest and ridden by Cash Asmussen, had won. She started at odds of nearly 10-1.

The race, worth pounds 35,000 to the winner, was three furlongs shorter than the mile of the Guineas.