Ace Impact, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Cristian Demuro, won the French Derby, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, at Chantilly on Sunday.
The three-year-old son of Cracksman reeled in Big Rock over the last 500 metres of the 2,100-metre race featuring 11 horses in perfect, sunny conditions.
It was a sixth French Derby win for Rouget and third for Italian jockey Demuro, while Ace Impact, which set a course record of 2min 2.63sec, now goes four wins from four outings.
"I didn't want to put him in the red from the off," said Demuro. "I waited until the last bend. I then dominated the entire straight. When I kicked I had gas."
Rouget, who won last year with Vadeni, admitted "history was starting to take shape".
"I said to myself that if we finish second behind Big Rock I'd be happy. But my horse remains undefeated and in some style. He's got a huge engine, I love the horse", he said.
Ace Impact's victory saw owner Serge Stempniak pocket 857,100 euros in prize money.
Big Rock, with Aurelien Lemaitre on board, took second, while Marhaba Ya Sanafi, under Mickael Barzalona, rounded out the podium.
