Aidan O'Brien's Sydney Opera House was caught by Wonderment in the final strides of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
O'Brien's chief hope appeared to be Norway, who had Sydney Opera House behind him when winning the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago.
Seamie Heffernan attempted to make all the running on the favourite but he found little when pressed, firstly by Andrew Balding's Fox Tal.
Fox Tal briefly looked like keeping his challengers at bay, but Sydney Opera House and Mickael Barzalona hit the front close home.
However, Nicolas Clement's Wonderment, having just her third run, quickened up impressively down the centre of the track to get up close home under Stephane Pasquier.
Norway finished fourth with Seaad bin Suroor's Shoot For Gold and John Gosden's Shambolic well beaten.
O'Brien said of the runner-up: "He ran very well. We were delighted with him. Mickael thought he was a little bit lazy when he got there but when the winner went by him, he went again, and the line came just too soon.
"Mickael was delighted with him and said he'll stay well next year."
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