Trueshan (11-10F SP, 8-5F PMU) proved his class and silenced any doubts over his stamina with a conclusive victory in the Qatar Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.
The Alan King-trained gelding was running on his preferred soft going and was tackling the two-and-a-half-mile trip for the first time, in what was a long-awaited head-to-head with staying giant Stradivarius.
Both horses were travelling well as the field rounded the final bend and they drew level when passing the furlong pole, but it was Trueshan – ridden for the first time by James Doyle with Hollie Doyle suspended – who powered to the line, leaving Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori four and a half lengths behind him.
King was not in France and was looking forward to enjoying a full replay.
He said: "I'm thrilled, obviously. I’ve been at a memorial service for one of my owners today, so I’ve only seen the end of the race. I’m very looking forward to watching it again.
"The ground and everything has come right for him today. As long as we duck and dive with the ground and everything, hopefully we’ve got a proper horse.
"To win at Goodwood and again today is very special."
Doyle said: "Thankfully we got a nice spot and I could see Frankie quite close to me. He's a dream to ride, he’s a real champion."
Of the gallant Stradivarius – who had missed the Goodwood Cup won by Trueshan due to the ground – Dettori said: "This ground just blunts his turn of foot and the winner outgalloped me – it’s as simple as that.
"I had nothing left. I was holding on to dear life and when James came I had to go.
"Bless him, he tries so hard and his courage got him there (to finish second)."
John and Thady Gosden's Loving Dream (8-1 SP, 78-10 PMU) narrowly prevailed in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu as Frankie Dettori recorded a double on the afternoon.
The Gleneagles filly found herself locked in a tight finish with Roger Varian’s runner-up Believe In Love, but it was the Gosden contender that ultimately prevailed by a short neck, claiming a Group One title to add to her Group Two win in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Thady Gosden said: "When she was headed by Andrea’s (Atzeni) filly it was a little bit concerning, but she’s a very gutsy and tough filly and obviously very talented.
"Frankie gave her a wonderful ride. As we all know, when he’s in form, nobody can beat him.
"She obviously enjoyed the step up to a mile and six (furlongs), although she won the Ribblesdale over a mile and a half well.
"She likes a bit of cut in the ground. She wouldn’t mind it a bit quicker than it is today, but she handled it.
"There’s Champions Day in a couple of weeks, but we’ll see how she is and talk to the owners. They bred this filly and this is what it’s all about for them."
Manobo (8-11F SP, 7-10F PMU) defended his unbeaten record when taking the Group Two Qatar Prix Chaudenay in a one-two for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.
The gelded son of Sea The Stars was unproven over the one-mile-seven-furlong trip and on soft going, but ran out a convincing winner when coming home three-quarters of a length ahead of stablemate Kemari.
Taking up the lead with a furlong and a half left to travel, the three-year-old – who beat subsequent Derby and St Leger runner-up Mojo Star on his debut – had travelled in mid-division for much of the way and proved his stamina when staying on under James Doyle to take his fourth consecutive race.
"I'm pleased with the way the race went," said Appleby, making the perfect start to a huge weekend for his team.
"He (Manobo) was a little bit fresh and awkward for the first couple of furlongs, but James said once they turned out of the back he was happy he’d got into a nice rhythm.
"He said he actually surprised him with his acceleration. My instructions were to get into him early as he’s a big unit and needs to get rolling, but James said he gave him a squeeze and before he knew it he was hitting the front.
"We hoped he could work into a profile where we had a Cup horse in time, and I think he’s starting to make ground towards that."
There has been much discussion about the Longchamp ground and the wet Paris forecast over the weekend, with Doyle describing the current going as: "Very testing. It’s certainly genuine soft ground that takes a bit of getting."
Real World (5-4F SP, 17-10F PMU) could have the Dubai World Cup on his agenda next year after denying The Revenant a third Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein victory as he held for Group Two honours under Frankie Dettori.
Riding the crest of a wave having triumphed in his previous three races, including at Royal Ascot, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dark Angel colt coped admirably on unsuitably soft going to take up the lead a furlong from home.
Only Francis-Henri Graffard's The Revenant could lay down a challenge as the post approach, but Real World was able to repel him and crossed the line a short neck to the good, as Dettori and Bin Suroor teamed up again in a reminder of so many big days in Paris.
Bin Suroor said: "This horse has improved a lot. He won at Royal Ascot, then a Listed race at Newbury and then a Group Three at York and then we brought him here.
"There was a question mark about the soft ground. He had never run on this ground, but we gave him a chance and thankfully he won.
"Physically he looks good – he is not there yet, but he is still improving.
"I think he can run between a mile and a mile and a quarter. We will speak to Sheikh Mohammed about a plan, but more than likely will take him back to Dubai."
Dubai Honour (2-1 SP, 5-2 PMU) took the Qatar Prix Dollar as James Doyle completed a treble on the afternoon.
The Willie Haggas-trained gelding came form last to first in the home straight, with Magny Cours second and Dawn Intello third.
"It's been a great day," Doyle said.
"Coming into it they all looked to have good chances on paper, so I was quietly confident, but I’ve had other days like that at Longchamp and nothing happens.
"It can be tricky places to master, but when you’re on the right horses, it’s quite straightforward.
"It was difficult to assess this horse (Dubai Honour) coming into it. He’d won quite a strong handicap at Newmarket and then in Deauville I kind of felt the race set up for him a bit. I rode Highland Avenue in the race and we went way too quick early and it suited closers.
"But you couldn’t knock that performance today. I thought we’d be brave and hang on and there was never really a moment’s worry – I was in full control really.
"To ride winners here is not easy, so to get three means I can bounce into tomorrow with a spring in my step."
