Flotilla produced a record-breaking performance when getting up in the final strides to land the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) yesterday at Longchamp.
Last season's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf winner, under Christophe Lemaire, collared the Andre Fabre-trained favourite Esoterique close to home to oblige by a neck.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles' decision to run Sage Melody as a pacemaker paid off as Flotilla set a record time for the mile showpiece.
The first two pulled four lengths clear of Tasaday in third, while Zurigha came from way off the pace to grab fourth for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes.
The Francois Doumen-trained 20-1 shot Russian Blue, ridden by William Buick, came fifth, just ahead of the Ralph Beckett-trained Waterway Run. It was another boost for the Breeders' Cup race, as Sky Lantern, who was eighth that day, won the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
"We had to make sure she had pace in the race because we wanted to make the race a properly run one," said Delzangles, who had faced a race against time to get his filly to the Classic. "The pace was fast as they broke the course record for the race.
"She needed time to come to herself after the winter. She has two options. We can try to go a bit further and run her in the Prix Diane or we stay at the same distance and go for the Coronation Stakes, but we have plenty of time in which to decide that."
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) went to Style Vendome, who was taking his winning run to five.
The Nicolas Clement-trained colt had won the Prix Djebel on his previous start and he continued his progress with a decisive, though narrow, triumph, and has the Prix du Jockey Club or St James's Palace Stakes as potential options.
Style Vendome (9-2) responded to jockey Thierry Thulliez's urgings to lead inside the final furlong and hang on by a neck from Dastarhon (50-1).
Intello (7-1) finished with a flourish on the outside to grab third place, just a head away, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gale Force Ten back in fourth and Hannon's Havana Gold fifth in the hands of Jamie Spencer.
Hannon's first string, Olympic Glory, was sent off favourite but could never get in a blow from his wide position and was towards the rear of the field for most of the mile contest.
Fabre took three races on the card, highlighted by Tabelaux in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart from Park Reel, with O'Brien's Festive Cheer a close third.
*Battle Of Marengo made it five wins in a row but was only work-manlike in claiming victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial yesterday at Leopardstown.
Giving Aidan O'Brien his fourth Derby trial winner of the week, the Galileo colt – sent off at prohibitive odds of 2-13 – took over from Dont Bother Me around five furlongs out and it looked like he would win with real ease when going clear with quarter of a mile to run.
However, he had to get a reminder from a relatively animated Joseph O'Brien and in the end was pushed out to beat Loch Garman by a length and threequarters, with Little White Cloud running an eyecatching race in third.
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