Monday, 6 September 2010: Fuisse, who played up before the start causing the race to be delayed by 15 minutes, showed no ill affects from his Longchamp exploration when coming from last to first to land the Prix du Moulin.
Swooping fast and late down the outside, Stephane Pasquier got the 99-10 shot up in the dying strides to deny Rio De La Plata (14-1) by a head, who himself had just got his head infront of Siyouni (4-1) after the pair had duelled for the majority of the final furlong.
Paco Boy, the 13-10 favourite, was denied any sort of run as Richard Hughes tried for a gap up the inside, while dualFrench Classic winner Lope De Vega pulled too hard through the early stages and offered no threat.
Fuisse twice unseated Pasquier before the race, the second of which resulted in an extensive tour of Longchamp. Once caught the officials allowed Fuisse time to recover as he walked more than a mile back to the start.
The majority of the field - responsible for 13 wins between them from just 26 outings this season - took the wait in their stride, with the jockeys dismounting, however Lope De Vega did get warm.
Once loaded the controversy was not over. Siyouni hit the gate and led the field through the early fractions at a moderate pace. Mickael Barzalona sat second on RioDe La Plata, while Hughes settled Paco Boy more prominently than usual in third.
Turning for home, Lemaire quickened from the front and, with it turning into a bit of a sprint, Paco Boy was caught out and was soon pushed along by Hughes.
With Paco Boy not travelling with his usual zest Hughes seemingly did not have enough horse underneath him to pullout and come all the way around those in front, and arguably without a gap as he had Via Medici on his outside, Hughes made a daring bid up the inner rail.
There was not enough room for the Richard Hannon-trained five-year-old and Hughes had to check his run, although it is unlikely he would have come out on top as he was never travelling sweetly.
Hughes said: "It was a messy race and he didn't finish like he normally does. I think he got a bit shut in on the rail."
Second-favourite Lope De Vega was also well beaten by this point, leaving three outsiders to fight out a thrilling finish. Front runners Siyouniand Rio De La Plata took each other on, while pre-race jester Fuisse was finishing fast from off the pace.
Barzalona and his mount slowly ground down Lemaire on Siyouni but, just as he had done enough to get the better of that rival, it was clear he had a fight on his hands to repel Fuisse.
The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained four-year-old left it late but was very game, battling all the wayto the line from off a modest pace to get up in the shadow of the post.
Speaking after the race, Head-Maarek, whose parents bred the winner, said: "He was very fresh and playful. He can be like that in the morning but never in the afternoon.
"He has a magnificent stride and today the race went his way, which is a big advantage. At Deauville he had his nose in the wind.
"He may well come over to Newmarket for the Champion Stakes. I think he can stay."
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