No doubts as Maybe stretches unbeaten run

Smartly away under trainer Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph, the daughter of Galileo tracked the pace set by stablemate Soon. As that one gave way, Maybe (8-13 favourite) took over with two of the seven furlongs to run and never looked likely to be caught, with Fire Lily coming out of the pack to take second, a length and three-quarters away.

Stan James were unchanged at 7-2 for the 1000 Guineas, but trimmed the O’Brien filly to 5-1 from 7-1 for the Oaks. Maybe could now follow the same route as last year’s Moyglare winner, Misty For Me, and head to Longchamp on Arc day (2 October), although Newmarket and the Fillies’ Mile could also come into the equation.

O’Brien said: “Everything went right, so I’m delighted. She’s very uncomplicated and she has the gears. I suppose the option would be the French race [Prix Marcel Boussac] next, that’s what we did with Misty For Me. She’s progressing and loves her racing. All the options are there; also the Fillies’ Mile. Looking at her today you’d say a mile would be no problem.”

Meanwhile, Investec Derby winner Pour Moi has been retired after suffering a leg injury.

The Andre Fabre-trained colt had been favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp at around 3-1.

However, doubts about his participation started to circulate on Friday night, and bookmakers moved to take the Coolmore-owned son of Montjeu out of the ante-post market.

Fabre said: “He badly over-reached himself on his off-fore and I’m afraid he won’t run again. It’s difficult to mend. What he did at Epsom was amazing, to go from last to first. For a horse to get there so easily, the turn of foot he showed was a sign of great ability.

“When a horse comes from behind, they are sometimes difficult to rate, but the way he accelerated in the Greffulhe was good and in the Derby it was amazing. I have never trained a middle-distance horse that had such acceleration.”

Of the injury, Fabre went on: “It happened two days ago and when it was scanned you could see what the damage was. It was deeper than we thought. I’m sure he will be a super sire. He’s a beautiful, well-bred colt with a fantastic action and a change of pace.”

Pour Moi’s victory at Epsom saw him sweep from the rear of the field to beat Treasure Beach, also in Coolmore ownership and subsequent winner of the Irish Derby, by a head, with young jockey Mickael Barzalona famously standing up in celebration before the line.

Coolmore supremo John Magnier said: “While Pour Moi’s injury is a great shame, we are very fortunate to have such a brilliant Derby winner retiring to Coolmore, where he will join two other recent winners of the race in Galileo and High Chaparral.”

Betfred make the Aidan O’Brien-trained So You Think the new favourite for the Arc at 4-1, with King George winner Nathaniel and last year’s Longchamp victor Workforce cut to 9-2 from 5-1. Stan James have So You Think as the 5-1 market leader, with Workforce, Nathaniel and Sarafina all available at 11-2.