Holdthasigreen Lands Prix du Cadran

Holdthasigreen shrugged off an absence of nearly three months to grind out an all-the-way success under Tony Piccone in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1) Oct. 5 at ParisLongchamp, holding off last year's winner, Call The Wind, in a reverse of the 1-2 from 12 months ago.

Favorite Dee Ex Bee finished third.

The Bruno Audouin-trained runner managed only fifth in each of his two prior runs but stayed on well to hold off a late challenge from Call The Wind and score by three-quarters of a length.

Having spent the summer in the shadow of Stradivarius, Dee Ex Bee looked to have a big chance to get a first top-level success under his belt. But despite being prominent throughout, the 6-5 favorite failed to find any extra late on, and Mark Johnston's 4-year-old had to settle for third place under Mickael Barzalona.

Explaining 7-year-old Holdthasigreen's extended absence, former trainer and part-owner Claude LeLay said: "His first run of the year we put down to tiredness, but after he was fifth on his second run back, we took some blood and he was sick. To win on what was effectively his comeback run over 4,000 meters (approximately 2 1/2 miles) shows an immense mental strength on his part."

Should Holdthasigreen recover well, he will defend his title three weeks from now in the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) at ParisLongchamp, where he could meet Qatar Prix Chaudenay (G2) winner Technician.