The winner was skilfully ridden by reformed badboy Dominique Boeuf who took a calculated gamble in dropping the filly back to last place to avoid any problems with congestion.

Striking the front inside the last 200 metres, she then outclassed the front-running Nadia.

Nadia, ridden by Frankie Dettori for Carlos Laffon-Parias, finished second while English challenger Time Away, ridden by Pat Eddery for John Dunlop, was third a neck further back.

Boeuf, who was jailed for drugs offences in the mid 1990s, was full of praise for Daniel Wildenstein's filly after her dramatic performance.

"She's got some engine," he enthused.

"She has loads of quality. She is simply very, very good," enthused the rider.

He added: "I found myself hemmed in the middle of the pack and that is why I took a pull and dropped the filly to the rear so as not to meet any trouble.

"Had I remained where I was and got beaten a short head, I would have been blasted by the critics. Happily, it has all worked out well.

"I am also grateful to the Wildensteins for welcoming me back into the fold."