Tony Mullins' Princess Zoe completed her fairytale story with a dramatic last-gasp victory in the Group One Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.
Ridden by apprentice Joey Sheridan, who was unable to claim his allowance, Princess Zoe reeled in long-time leader Alkuin just yards from the finish to snatch the two-and-a-half mile stamina test.
Rated just 64 when runner-up on her first outing for Irish trainer Mullins after been previously trained in Germany, the five-year-old has gone from strength to strength in a short space of time.
Having won three handicaps, Princess Zoe lifted a Listed contest at Galway on her latest outing at the end of July, tempting connections to aim high.
They were proved right as she reduced a big deficit to score by half a length at the highest level.
Princess Zoe was at least six lengths down with less than two furlongs to run, but she would not be denied as she reeled in Alkuin. Favourite Call The Wind was a further 15 lengths back in third.
This is what it means to us 💪💪💪💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/LMY7ZVnyD7
— Tony Mullins (@tonymullins84) October 3, 2020
Elsewhere, Skalleti became the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Qatar Prix Dollar since Cirrus Des Aigles seven years ago when staging a late show at ParisLongchamp.
The five-year-old came from the clouds to cut down Patrick Sarsfield and land the Group Two spoils by a length and a quarter for trainer Jerome Reynier and jockey Maxime Guyon.
Raging Storm made the running and soon set up a six-length advantage which he maintained into the straight, where Frankie Dettori set sail for home on Patrick Sarsfield.
It looked like Joseph O'Brien's four-year-old was heading for victory, but Skalleti got a dream run on the far rail to nail the leader, with Dariyma two and a half lengths away in third
Valia came from last to first to run out a comfortable winner of the opening Qatar Prix Chaudenay.
Alain de Royer-Dupre's lightly-raced three-year-old, wearing the colours of the Aga Khan, proved too good for the opposition in the Group Two over one mile and seven furlongs.
Christophe Soumillon was content to sit back as Mykiss cut out the pace while Ralph Beckett's British raider Max Vega appeared to be in a good position only to be found wanting when the tempo increased in the final straight.
Valia made smooth progress to hit the front and draw away to score by two lengths from Nemean Lion. Step By Step was third with Max Vega fourth of the six runners.
