Makfi gave star milers Goldikova and Paco Boy a shock when scooting to victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

The 2000 Guineas winner left a dismal display in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot behind him to show his Classic victory was no fluke.

The Mikel Delzangles-trained colt led inside the final furlong and drew away on the rain-softened ground to score by two and a half lengths from Goldikova, with Paco Boy just behind in third.

Goldikova's two pacemakers Saying and Only Green set off in front with the brilliant mare on their tails, while Makfi slipstreamed her under Christophe Soumillon, with Paco Boy in rear.

Although Goldikova took over as planned, she could not produce her trademark acceleration in the testing conditions and Makfi swept into the lead to beat his talented older rivals, with the favourite regaining second spot from Paco Boy close home.

Delzangles said: "I'm delighted. I was a bit disappointed after Ascot, but we knew he was sick, so there was a reason for that. The horse has proved again he is a top miler. The ground doesn't bother him. He goes on any ground and is very easy to ride."

The trainer suggested Makfi's next race is likely to be either the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp in three weeks' time or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

British raiders Black Spirit, trained by Clive Cox, and Circumvent, from the Paul Cole yard, were third and fourth respectively in the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano.

The Group Two heat over 10 furlongs went to Scalo, trained in Germany by Andreas Wohler and ridden by Maxime Guyon.