Francis Henri Graffard’s great season continued with another Group 1 win as Christophe Soumillon produced a masterful ride on Quisisana, to steal the Group 1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville

The five-year-old mare shot clear of her rivals early in the straight and never looked like getting caught, winning her third win of the season and first at Group 1 level.

Victory also gave the Graffard-trained five-year-old a place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The 7/1 chance was chased home by 10/1 hope Survie and 50/1 outsider Grand Stars, with the British and Irish raiders disappointing.

Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story was aiming to better her Prix de Diane second place and she looked to be in a good position, sitting on the rail behind the two leaders into the straight. But she was unable to get a clear run until it was to late and ended up finishing fifth, beaten two and a half lengths.

Charlie Appleby’s Cinderella's Dream had gone off 11/10 favourite but she seemed to have no excuses, getting a clear run on the outside but only managing fourth.

Sidelines

The winner was off the track almost exactly a year from June last year, returning from 358 days on the sidelines as a listed winner.

A conditions race at Compiegne and a second listed success at Chantilly meant she came here quietly fancied, and the daughter of Le Havre has been inserted at 20/1 for Europe's richest race in October.

The winning trainer said on Sky Racing: "I’ve always adored her and I’ve made a fair few difficult phone calls to her owner, always with a bit of a broken heart.

"I was sure she would win this race last year but she always had a small hold-up here and there.

“I was very frustrated that we had to stop her campaign and I pushed Monsieur Winter hard to keep her in training this year.

"This year she won in listed company and once again I focused on this race. She’ll get 12 furlongs no problem and I don’t think soft ground will bother her. The only issue is whether I can keep her healthy. Every day I cross my fingers.

"I’m delighted for Monsieur Winter, who is so passionate about this sport and has an unbelievable breeding programme. No matter the bad news he always supported me and was never difficult to deal with, however disappointed he was. It’s a victory for patience and for self-sacrifice."