Samangan gave Francis-Henri Graffard another Group One success with victory in the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. Always close to the pace-setting Afandy over the intermediate six-and-a-half-furlong trip, the Aga Khan Studs-owned Samangan battled through the final quarter-mile to master Stolen Kiss and just found the post coming in time to foil the William Haggas-trained Division, who flashed home under James Doyle.

The winner had been fourth in the Prix Jean Prat last time out in which True Love was second, but comprehensively reversed form with the Ballydoyle Classic heroine on this occasion.

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the owners in France, told Sky Sports Racing: "He's a lovely horse, he's very genuine. He was always going to follow Afandy and then he was really brave."

Graffard added: "I am very pleased for the stable. He is a colt we have always held in high regard. Things did not go as planned at the beginning of the season, but he also needed to gain experience."

His next target could be the Qatar Prix de la Foret, provided the ground is not too testing for him.