Maltese Cross defied bad luck in running to secure William Haggas' first Grand Prix de Paris crown with a surging finish, completing a British one-two at ParisLongchamp. Tom Marquand remained patient as the son of Sea The Stars hit dead ends, with Charlie Johnston's Ancient Egypt hitting the front after Causeway's front-running effort peeled off.

Ancient Egypt continued to stride on at the three-furlong pole, but Maltese Cross was boxed in and had to switch off the inside rail. The first opportunity came late and an impressive turn of foot saw him squeeze through a gap to head Ancient Egypt in the final strides, landing the Bastille Day Group One at 14-5. The victory marked the first British success since Hurricane Lane for Charlie Appleby in 2021, with Johnston's charge outrunning his outsider status at 22-1.

Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas praised the colt's toughness and will to win, noting he "will squirm through a little hole." Owner George Waud said the horse "made the space for him" and compared the win to his Derby second. Johnston was proud of Ancient Egypt, who suffered another narrow defeat after going down by a neck in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.