Manobo defended his unbeaten record when taking the Group Two Qatar Prix Chaudenay in a one-two for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin at ParisLongchamp

The gelded son of Sea The Stars started as the 8-11 favourite and despite being unproven over the one-mile-seven-furlong trip and on soft going, the bay still looked a convincing winner when coming home three-quarters of a length ahead of stablemate Kemari.

Taking up the lead with a furlong and a half left to travel, the three-year-old – who beat subsequent Derby and St Leger runner-up Mojo Star on his debut – had travelled in mid-division for much of the way and proved his stamina when staying on under James Doyle to take his fourth consecutive race.

“I’m pleased with the way the race went,” said Appleby, making the perfect start to a huge weekend for his team.

“He (Manobo) was a little bit fresh and awkward for the first couple of furlongs, but James said once they turned out of the back he was happy he’d got into a nice rhythm.

“He said he actually surprised him with his acceleration. My instructions were to get into him early as he’s a big unit and needs to get rolling, but James said he gave him a squeeze and before he knew it he was hitting the front.

“We hoped he could work into a profile where we had a Cup horse in time, and I think he’s starting to make ground towards that.”

There has been much discussion about the Longchamp ground and the wet Paris forecast over the weekend, with Doyle describing the current going as: “Very testing. It’s certainly genuine soft ground that takes a bit of getting.”

Appleby is now likely to give both horses a break ahead of next season, with Champions Day at Ascot seemingly not on the agenda for either.

“We’ll put the two of them away, I’d imagine,” he said.

“It was always the plan for Manobo to come here. It’s been mooted about whether we would take him to Ascot, but he had to battle today and he is only a young horse and a nice, staying horse for the future.

“After running on soft ground today, it might be a big ask for him to go back to Ascot on Champions Day.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Loving Dream led an English one-two as she narrowly prevailed in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.

Starting at 8-1, the Gleneagles filly was piloted by Frankie Dettori and found herself locked in a tight finish with Roger Varian’s runner-up Believe In Love.

It was the Gosden contender that ultimately prevailed by a short neck, claiming a Group One title to add to her Group Two win in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Thady Gosden said: “When she was headed by Andrea’s (Atzeni) filly it was a little bit concerning, but she’s a very gutsy and tough filly and obviously very talented.

“Frankie gave her a wonderful ride. As we all know, when he’s in form, nobody can beat him.

“She obviously enjoyed the step up to a mile and six (furlongs), although she won the Ribblesdale over a mile and a half well.

“She likes a bit of cut in the ground. She wouldn’t mind it a bit quicker than it is today, but she handled it.

“There’s Champions Day in a couple of weeks, but we’ll see how she is and talk to the owners. They bred this filly and this is what it’s all about for them.”

William Haggas then enjoyed a Group Two success in the Qatar Prix Dollar when Dubai Honour prevailed as the 2-1 favourite.

The three-year-old had won on his two previous outings, latterly the Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, and provided Doyle with a Longchamp treble after the Prix Chaudenay victory of Monobo and the Prix du Cadran with Trueshan.

“It’s been a great day,” Doyle said.

“Coming into it they all looked to have good chances on paper, so I was quietly confident, but I’ve had other days like that at Longchamp and nothing happens.

“It can be tricky places to master, but when you’re on the right horses, it’s quite straightforward.

“It was difficult to assess this horse (Dubai Honour) coming into it. He’d won quite a strong handicap at Newmarket and then in Deauville I kind of felt the race set up for him a bit. I rode Highland Avenue in the race and we went way too quick early and it suited closers.

“But you couldn’t knock that performance today. I thought we’d be brave and hang on and there was never really a moment’s worry – I was in full control really.

“To ride winners here is not easy, so to get three means I can bounce into tomorrow with a spring in my step.”

Haggas, who was at Newmarket rather than Longchamp, said of Dubai Honour: “I’ve only seen the race on television, but I’ve been told that he has won nicely so that is terrific.

“He has done nothing but improve. He won a handicap at the July Meeting then he won the Guillaume d’ Ornano and this confirmed that victory was not a one-off.

“I don’t think he will go for the Champion Stakes. I’ve not discussed it with his owner yet, but I think he might go to Bahrain.

“It was a big leap going from a handicap to a Group Two last time, but he is a good horse and I’m very pleased with him.

“He is going to stay in training and we will make a plan for next year. He is gelded so we might do some travelling with him and try to get some money.”