Vodafone Derby third Beat Hollow provided the Epsom form with an early boost when he decisively landed the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp today.
However, Best Of The Bests, fourth in the Derby, faded disappointingly from his front-running position, dead-heating for fourth.
Beat Hollow's jockey Richard Quinn said: 'He was doing a bit more than I wanted in the early stages but he quickened up nicely two out and then kept on well.'
Cecil commented: 'He's still a baby with a lot to learn but to win a Group One with a horse like that isn't bad.'
Cecil added of the colt, who picked up a first prize of over £115,000: 'Beat Hollow is bred to stay a mile and a half and as he matures we will race him over that trip again.'
The colt had opened up at 100-30 on the Pari-Mutuel but closed in sharply to be sent off at 1.4-1 favourite, with the support including a reported six-figure bet placed by a leading British-based bookmaker.
Godolphin's Simon Crisford said of Best Of The Bests: 'The ground was quicker than we thought it might be but the main thing is that he has had three tough races this season and needs a break now.'
Godolphin had more to shout about when Josr Algarhoud and Sylvain Guillot fought off a whole host of challenges in the closing stages of the seven-furlong Prix de la Porte Maillot.
The injury-hit Josr Algarhoud was having only his fourth start since winning the Grimcrack Stakes at two.
Under a strong ride he beat fast-finishing Cap Coz by half a length with Brian Meehan's Tumbleweed Ridge, last year's winner, three-quarters of a length back in third.
John Gosden's Mount Abu launched a brief challenge but faded tamely in the closing stages to finish sixth.
Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: 'This horse is such a good worker at home that the rest only ever see his tail.'
Crisford added: 'We will be eyeing up races at between six-and-a-half and seven-and-a-half furlongs for him in the coming months.'
Coral cut Beat Hollow to 8-1 from 14-1 for the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and to 4-1 from 7-1 for the Coral-Eclipse after his victory.
'Beat Hollow has redeemed his reputation with a solid victory and with the 10-furlong trip maybe an important factor in his win Beat Hollow could easily develop into a short-priced favourite for the Eclipse,' commented Coral spokesman Ian Wassell.
