in august, never so bold made a second visit to france and recorded his most important success up to that time when he won the prix maurice de gheest (then group two, now group one) over 1300 metres at deauville. later that month he was beaten a neck by prego in the group three hungerford stakes over seven furlongs when he appeared to tire in the closing stages. on his next appearance he was ridden by tony murray in the vernons sprint cup at haydock and finished third, beaten a short head and half a length by petong and habibti. on his final appearance he won his first british group race when he beat fortysecond street by one and a half lengths in the diadem stakes at ascot. by the end of the year, he was rated 128 by timeform, representing an improvement of 28 pounds on his 1983 rating.