But July Cup and Betfred Sprint Cup hero Dream Ahead came from out of the pack to challenge inside the final furlong and managed to gain a slender advantage in the very last stride, giving William Buick a second Group One success on the day after Elusive Kate.

Although narrowly denied a remarkable 15th Group One victory, Freddie Head's Goldikova lost little in defeat.

Dream Ahead was a bitter disappointment on his latest visit to France, but showed his class with a superb display under William Buick.

Outsider Surfrider finished third, with Irish raider Bewitched seemingly failing to stay after following Goldikova through in eyecatching fashion. The William Haggas-trained Dever Dream broke down in the straight.

Buick said: ``David has trained this horse to perfection, it's not been easy the whole way through.

“There’s no point saying David’s a good trainer because everybody knows that already.

“Everything panned out today. I just wish Goldikova wasn’t second because I’m a big fan, but Dream Ahead was a worthy winner, the best horse won the race.

“I always said he’d be better in a good race because when he gets to the front he does nothing. Today he went a head up and started hanging left.”