Christophe Soumillon timed his run on the Aga Khan-owned colt perfectly, leaving it late to glide his way past the field.

Mubtaker, who had held the lead into the home straight, was edged out into second spot while Irish hope High Chaparral had to settle for third.

Patavellian and Zee Zee Top were the only winners amongst a strong British and Irish contingent in the other five Group One races in Paris.

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1630 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1m 4f)

1. Dalakhani (Christophe Soumillon) 9-4
2. Mubtaker (Richard Hills) 25-1
3. High Chaparral (Mick Kinane) 13-8F

Christophe Soumillon grabbed his first win in the Arc as he guided home favourite Dalakhani to victory by nearly a length.

At the seven-furlong mark the three-year-old was nestled deep in the pack but he showed he had plenty of pace to launch a fast finish.

The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained colt closed down the brave challenge of Marcus Tregoning's Mubtaker, who had pushed for home down the straight.

Mubtaker, ridden by Richard Hills, took a surprise second while favourite High Chaparral finished third for the second year running.

Frankie Dettori's bid to notch up his third straight victory in the race was dashed as his mount Doyen finished fourth.

1550 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere (7f) 6 ran

1. American Post (Richard Hughes) 4-1
2. Charming Prince (Olivier Peslier) 3-1
3. Newton (Jamie Spencer) 12-1

American Post had looked distinctly out of sorts before the race, rearing up and refusing to be placed in the stalls but he was perfectly cool as he claimed top spot.

Richard Hughes urged on the two-year-old just after the three-furlong mark and he won impressively by five lengths.

It was a disappointing race for trainer Aidan O'Brien who had four horses in action but could only snatch a tight third with Newton.

"The ground was horrible," said Hughes after the race.

"He played up a bit before because he did not want to go out but he is a tough horse."

1510 Prix Marcel Boussac (1m)

1. Denebola (Christophe-Patrice Lemaire) 5-1
2. Green Noon (Yann Lerner) 6-1
3. Tulipe Royale (Stephane Pasquier) 66-1
16 ran

Denebola weaved her way through the centre of the field to claim top spot by just half a length.

French trainer Pascal Bary followed up last year's victory by Six Perfections and it is the third time in four years that he has schooled the winner.

Irish pre-race favourite Necklace did not live up to expectations as she toiled at the back of the field in the home straight.

"We went to Newmarket this year with Six Perfections, but it is too early to say if we will do the same with Denebola," revealed Bary.

1435 Prix de l'Opera (1m 2f)

1. Zee Zee Top (Kieren Fallon) 14-1
2. Yesterday (Mick Kinane) 7-2
3. Bright Sky (Dominique Boeuf) 5-4F
11 ran

Zee Zee Top, ridden by Kieren Fallon, powered down from the back of the field to snatch the honours in a dramatic finish.

Pre-race favourite Bright Sky, who stylishly won the race last year, edged into the lead with 200 yards to go.

But she felt the pressure of keeping up with the early pace and was not able to hold off the chasing pack.

Aidan O'Brien's Yesterday came through with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zee Zee Top and was unlucky to miss out on top spot.

Stoute was full of praise for his winning filly after the race, he said: "She is very brave and showed tremendous resolution."

1400 Prix de l'Abbaye (5f)

1. Patavellian (Steve Drowne) 9-1
2. The Trader (Kieren Fallon) 50-1
3. The Tatling (R Moore) 40-1
19 ran

The British raiders got off the mark in Paris as Steve Drowne led home a one-two-three on Pataveillian.

Drown pushed on Roger Charlton's charge with two furlongs to go, bursting through on the rails to win comfortably.

Acclamation, who had took up the early lead, was edged out into fourth place.

Drowne said: "There was one gap there and I thought it was now or never and went for it, and he really picked up."

1325: Prix du Cadran (2m 4f)

1. Westerner (Dominique Boeuf) 10-1
2. Germinis (R Janneau) 33-1
3. Darasim (Joe Fanning) 6-1
10 ran

A strong British contingent could not rein in the challenge of the French-based Westerner.

The Elie Lellouche-trained four-year-old won the first Group One race six lengths clear of Germinis, who ran on well to claim second spot.

Mark Johnston's Darasim took a decent third but pre-race favourite, Ascot Gold Cup winner Mr Dinos, and Persian Punch were both well beaten.