Croco Rouge is to be aimed at the Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11th after coming from an impossible-looking position to beat the Japan Cup winner, El Condor Pasa, at Longchamp yesterday. The Pascal Bary-trained colt won the extended nine-furlong Group One Prix D'Ispahan by three-quarters of a length.

And last year's Ascot Gold Cup winner Kayf Tara, ridden by Sylvain Guillot, surged through gap on the rails to beat hot favourite Tajoun by a length and a half in the Group Two Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.

The length-and-a-half Godolphin scorer, sent off at 3.6 to 1 on the pari-mutuel, is expected to meet the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained runner-up again in the big Ascot contest.

Cerulean Sky sprang a 29.7 to 1 shock when winning the Group One Prix Saint-Alary with Mother Of Pearl (Peter Chapple-Hyam) fifth.