El Condor Pasa's impressive victory in yesterday's Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud prompted the possibility of a Japanese victory in October's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe.
The four-year-old, colt, trained by Yoshitaka Ninomiya, decisively saw off some of Europe's best middle distance horses when beating Tiger Hill by two and a half lengths with Dream Well in third.
Last year's Arc winner Sagamix never looked like justifying favouritism in fourth place, whilst Greek Dance, the sole British raider, finished seventh of the 10 starters.
Bookmakers William Hill slashed El Condor Pasa to 4-1 from 12-1 for the Arc.
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, William Hill bet: 9-4 Montjeu, 4-1 El Condor Pasa (from 12), 12-1 Croco Rouge (from 10), Sagamix (from 8), Tiger Hill (from 14), 14-1 Daryaba, Oath, 16-1 Dream Well (from 10), Fruits Of Love, Ramruma, Slickly, 20-1 Dark Moondancer, Daylami, High Rise, Leggera, Sea Wave, 25-1 Daliapour, Noushkey, Nowhere To Exit, 33-1 bar.
Gerard Butler yesterday expressed his relief that Compton Admiral had vindicated his faith with victory in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.
The trainer knew that his high opinion of the three-year-old had been questioned in some quarters, particularly after the colt had trailed in 13th in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and eighth in the Vodafone Derby.
"Not many people have believed in him - they e what we were doing, running him in races likes the Guineas and the Derby. Now he has proved he is up to Group One standard," Said Butler.
