The Italian-born jockey, who is based in England, was clocking up his 100th top-class Group One win with a devastating victory in Europe's richest horse race.

And the triumph helped the rider inflict a �1m blow on British bookmakers hit by punters plunging on Dettori, who was winning for the fifth time in two days at Longchamp.

Trained by the Godolphin team, Sakhee travelled with ease throughout the mile-and-a-half race on soft ground.

And when Dettori asked the four-year-old colt to move clear, his mount reacted in breathtaking style.

He trounced his rivals by six lengths in the middle-distance championship of Europe, which boasts prize money of nearly �600,000.

The previously unbeaten Aquarelliste finished back in second, with Sagacity third.

Sakhee was runner-up in the 2000 Epsom Derby to Sinndar, who went on to win last year's Arc.

After leading Sakhee back to the winner's enclosure, Dettori said: " He's such a good horse - never at any stage was it in doubt."

"I believe he would give Fantastic Light (winner of the Irish Champion Stakes and stablemate) a real race for his money."

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was almost lost for words as he welcomed the winner back to the paddock.

"People doubted he would like the ground but he is a superstar," the former Dubai policeman said.

"Champions can win on any ground and he showed it today."

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford hinted at changing Sakhee's campaign to the Breeders' Cup Turf on 27 October although owner Sheikh Hamdan still has other ideas.

"He would like a tilt at the English Champion Stakes in 13 days time but we will see," he said.

Irish challenger Milan finished fast in fifth but never looked like being able to land a blow at the winner.

Blow to bookies

Dettori famously cost the bookmakers millions of pounds when he rode through the card with seven winners at the Ascot Festival of Racing five years ago.

And bookies were crying into their satchels again after his French fiesta.

William Hill spokesman David Hood said: " When Frankie does things he does them in style and his win on Sakhee will have won well over �1m for punters on Sunday.

"The levels of business were significantly higher than last year, maybe 20% higher, boosted by the tax-free situation and the quality of the card.

"But the sting in the tail was Frankie again, because he was in such hot form the punters followed him blindly in the Arc and Sakhee was well backed in to 9-4 favourite."