Roger Varian's talented colt Farraaj finished third in the Premio Parioli at Capannelle in the hands of stable jockey Neil Callan.
The three-year-old won twice in Britain during his juvenile campaign and signed off with an excellent third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Making his comeback at Group Three level in the Italian 2000 Guineas, he was up with the pace for much of the journey and was just about in front heading inside the last couple of furlongs.
In the end he had to make do with minor honours as Malossol and Vedelago quickened past, but he was far from disgraced.
The other British raider was Richard Hannon's Rockinante, but he was well beaten into seventh.
Varian said: "He ran very well and galloped all the way to the line.
"They didn't go very quick and he was a little bit fresh for the first couple of furlongs, but he ran well and there's a long season ahead.
"You're always disappointed not to win, but I'm not disappointed with the horse as I thought it was a good run for his first run of the season.
"He showed he's trained on and it's something to build on. He just found a couple too good on the day.
"I think that's his level, he's probably a Group Three horse and we won't be getting too ambitious.
"He's in the German Guineas and whether we go abroad with him again or just find something at home, we'll see.
"He went to America last year and to Italy this week and he is a horse who takes his travelling well, so we can go abroad if we want to."
Clive Brittain's Alsindi was the sole British representative in the Premio Regina Elena - the Italian 1000 Guineas.
With Callan also riding this filly, she came home well held in eighth.
