Racing: Maisons-Laffitte notes

Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old team looks to have another star player in Rossini, runaway winner of the Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Maisons- Laffitte yesterday. The Miswaki colt surged clear of his four rivals to win by five lengths with German challenger Auenklang five lengths away in second. The Neville Callaghan-trained Lord Pacal took fourth, beaten around six lengths by the winner. O'Brien's got an embarrassment of riches in his squad, a point underlined when he said: "He might go for a Group One in Ireland but I've got so many nice horses at home Rossini could come back for the Prix Morny in France next month."

Rossini was always well up with the pace before kicking clear under Mick Kinane over a furlong out to take the five-and-a-half furlong event for Ireland. Palio Sky, trained by John Dunlop, put up a brave effort in the Group Two Prix Maurice de Nieuil, finishing a three-quarters of a length second to Lucky Dream. Ridden by Sylvian Guillot, Palio Sky was always in contention but was unable to fend off the 7.3-1 winner.