Christophe Soumillon© Photo Healy Racing
Vazirabad retained the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud with a smooth victory under Christophe Soumillon.
Alain de Royer-Dupre's entire was a warm order to repeat his 2015 success and didn't disappoint under a confident ride.
Patiently ridden while Frankie Dettori cut out the early running aboard outsider Justice Belle, Vazirabad scythed through the pack to win with his ears pricked.
Endless Time was second for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby while Arc de Triomphe fourth Siljan's Saga, runner-up 12 months ago, finished fast and late to claim third.
Saeed bin Suroor's Sky Hunter and the only Irish-trained participant, Tony Martin's Quick Jack, both performed creditably.
Soumillon was completing a big-race double having earlier steered the Luca Cumani-trained Loving Things to Group Three success in the Prix De Flore.
John Gosden's Furia Cruzada was third and Roger Varian's Sharja Queen was sixth.
Soumillon told www.paris-turf.com: "My instructions were to sit in first or second but I wasn't able to do that. So I changed my plans and we waited further back. I then followed Frankie (Dettori) around the final turn and was well on top in the straight."
