Sarafina strengthened her position as favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as she overcame trouble to run out a narrow winner of the Qatar Prix Foy at Longchamp.
Christophe Lemaire was content to sit last of the four runners behind a steady early gallop set by last year's Arc runner-up Nakayama Festa from Japan, and Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey briefly hit the front over a furlong out.
Lemaire suddenly had nowhere to go as the second Japanese challenger, Hiruno D'Amour, hemmed him in, but he forced his mount through a small gap and she showed plenty of courage to take the opportunity. Hiruno D'Amour finished second.
Installed Arc favourite when Derby winner Pour Moi had to be retired, Sarafina was cut to 3-1 by Coral, Ladbrokes and Stan James, and to 7-2 by Betfred.
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