Aidan O'Brien's Van Gogh bolted up under Pierre-Charles Boudot in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.
The American Pharoah colt, second to One Ruler in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last time out, stayed on powerfully to win by four lengths after five were in contention approaching the final furlong.
Held up in the early stages, a gap appeared on the rail and he took it in confident fashion as he dominated the seven-runner field.
Conditions were officially heavy for the mile contest but Van Gogh clearly appreciated the test of stamina as he hit the line well after being in control throughout the final quarter mile.
Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook cut Van Gogh to 20/1 from 33s for the Derby, while he's 25/1 from 50s with the same firms for the 2000 Guineas.
Winning jockey Boudot told Sky Sports Racing: “He is impressive.
“Aidan told me before the race that he needed cover, for a nice trip and be relaxed – and he has a nice turn of foot.
“But he is still green and tricky when he arrived in front – but he won in very good style.”
Among those behind him were two British challengers – and fellow 9/4 joint-favourites – Simon and Ed Crisford’s Jadoomi (third) and Charlie Appleby’s previously unbeaten La Barrosa, who dead-heated for fifth and last.
Gear Up lands Group One for Johnston
Mark Johnston’s Gear Up secured a British victory in the other Group One on the card, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud – springing a surprise at 18/1 under James Doyle.
Last seen when fourth in the Royal Lodge Stakes and successful before then in the Group Three Acomb at York, Gear Up took this move to 10 furlongs in his stride.
Always to the fore in a race run at only a steady pace in tough conditions, the Teofilo colt appeared vulnerable as the pack closed into the straight – but he refused to buckle and held on with great determination to win by a neck from Botanik.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s previously unbeaten favourite Makaloun and the well-backed Bolshoi Ballet, for O’Brien, were only third and fifth respectively.
Doyle, riding Gear Up for the first time, explained he decided on a change of tactics after speaking to Franny Norton, who had been in the saddle at Newmarket.
He said: “I have to say thank you to Franny Norton, who rang me yesterday and told me all about the horse.
“He just felt in the Royal Lodge that he gave the leader a bit of a soft time. He felt at the time it was the right thing to do – but in hindsight, it didn’t play to the horse’s strengths.
“He said get him into a nice rhythm, and wherever you’re happy – whether that’s in front or taking a lead.
“It wasn’t necessarily the plan to bounce out and make all – but as we know, these horses of Mark Johnston’s are a joy to ride, very relaxed and don’t tend to pull or overdo themselves.
“So when he broke nicely, I was happy to just control the race in front and he wound it up nicely off the bend.
“He was just tending to hang to his left a little bit, with inexperience. But I think this race will bring him on, and we’ll have a lot of fun with him next year.
“He’s very versatile, and I wouldn’t rule him out staying further next year. He powered through the line, and was actually drawing away.”
More Glory for Boudot
Ralph Beckett’s Feliciana De Vega was fancied to get involved in the earlier Prix de Flore but could fare no better than sixth of seven as Boudot took the Group Three spoils on Gianluca Bietolini’s Grand Glory.
The 9/1 shot won by a neck from Solsticia, with 7/4 joint-favourites Feliciana De Vega and the previously unbeaten Zaykava both unable to land a telling blow.
There was a Group Three win for a British challenger, however, when Roger Varian’s Believe In Love justified her starting price as 5/6 favourite in the Prix Belle de Nuit.
Mickael Barzalona made stealthy progress from the rear, took over in the straight and was largely motionless by the time Believe In Love passed the post a cheeky three-quarters of a length in front of Pontille.
