Double delight sees France dominate Guineas weekend

The pair pulled clear on the stands side as the field split into two groups, but it was Henry Cecil's Jacqueline Quest who prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

However, a stewards' inquiry was called after Cecil's filly drifted into the middle of the track, taking the French challenger, ridden by Stephane Pasquier, with her.

After about 10 minutes, the stewards declared that the 9-2 favourite had been awarded the race, to give trainer Criquette Head-Maarek a fourth success in the fillies' Classic.

Special Duty was drawn in stall one, with Cecil's filly in stall four, and those drawn low had a discernable advantage.

Jacqueline Quest hit the front two furlongs out, but the favourite made eye-catching progress and gained a slender margin inside the final 100 yards – only to seemingly lose out by a nose.

However, the 66-1 winner drifted markedly from a straight line and the placings were reversed because the winning margin was so narrow.

Jim Bolger's Gile Na Greine finished third at odds of 25-1.

Head-Maarek said: "Stephane said had the other filly not pushed him over, he would have won easily – but she (Jacqueline Quest) was drifting all the time.

"I don't like to win races like that and I feel very sorry for the others."

Mikel Delzangles is planning a return trip to Britain with Makfi after his shock 33-1 win in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

While Aidan O'Brien turns his attentions to the Investec Derby for beaten even-money favourite St Nicholas Abbey, Delzangles, who learned his trade under the legendary Yorkshire trainer Jimmy Fitzgerald in the late 80s, has his sights on Royal Ascot having struck with Chineur at the showpiece meeting five years ago.

Few ride the Rowley Mile as well as Christophe Lemaire and he tracked Johnny Murtagh aboard leader St Nicholas Abbey until the heavyweight punches were thrown.

As the Racing Post Trophy winner started to show signs of distress, Lemaire made his move on the son of Dubawi and his mount shot through between runners heading out of the dip to take issue entering the final furlong.

He had little trouble taking the baton from Dick Turpin inside the distance to stretch a length-and-a-quarter clear, with the former's stablemate Canford Cliffs a half-length adrift in third.

Awesome Act failed to deliver a first British-trained success at the Kentucky Derby as jockey Calvin Borel continued his recent dominance over the race with victory on Super Saver.

Jeremy Noseda had hoped to claim a breakthrough win at Churchill Downs but in wet conditions the well-fancied Awesome Act, ridden by Julien Leparoux, never threatened and finished well off the pace in 19th.

Victory for Borel was his third in the past four years.