Brando registers maiden Group One as Caravaggio beaten in Deauville

Hot favourite Caravaggio was bitterly disappointing as Kevin Ryan's Brando claimed Group One glory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Making his first appearance in France, Brando travelled powerfully in the hands of Tom Eaves and was produced to challenge Signs Of Blessing for the lead in the final furlong.

Ryan's charge saw out the six and a half furlongs well to hold off the late charge of fellow British challenger Aclaim, trained by Martyn Meade. Richard Hannon's Tupi was a clear third.

Brando kicked off his campaign with victory in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in April and although he was down the field in the Duke of York, he bounced back to finish third in last month's July Cup.

The five-year-old son of Pivotal is now second favourite for next month's Haydock Sprint Cup.

Betbright are a best-price 8-1, and he is as short as 5-1 with other firms. Harry Angel, his July Cup conqueror, is the 6-4 favourite.

It is a significant success for Ryan, who stables were closed earlier in the season due to an outbreak of equine herpes and the Hambleton-based trainer was looking forward to an autumn campaign.

"It's a great day. We're delighted with the horse," he said.

"He ran a good race in the July Cup and he'd tightened up since.

"He got a great ride and he was exceptional today. "We'll look at Haydock (Sprint Cup, September 9) next."

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Caravaggio lost his unbeaten record when fourth in the July Cup and was odds-on to return to winning ways.

However, he made a tardy start and never threatened to land a telling blow, having to settle for sixth in a tight photo for fourth place, which went to the Charlie Hills-trained Magical Memory.

O'Brien said: "Maybe I ran too close after Newmarket."

Meade was thrilled with the performance of Aclaim, who was turning out just five days after finishing sixth in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

He said: "It was a fantastic run and I'm very, very pleased.

"He was very unlucky in the Lennox. He didn't have a hard race as he just got no run at all, which is why we decided to run him again.

"He was obviously in sparkling form today. I think a little bit more ease in the ground would have suited him better.

"We've just bumped into one too good on the day, but we were only beaten half a length and it was a great effort.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race. I think the Prix de la Foret is probably what we'll aim for, but he is quite a hard horse so I would imagine he'll run again before then.

"I think seven furlongs is probably the ideal trip for him."

Elsewhere on the card, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Abingdon was third in the Prix de Pomone won by Bateel, who was following up her Lancashire Oaks triumph for Francis-Henri Graffard.