French Derby: After the bitter loss of Horatio Nelson in Saturday's Epsom Derby, there was no consolation for the Aidan O'Brien-Kieren Fallon team in Paris yesterday as Aussie Rules finished down the field in the the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) behind Darsi.

The Irish favourite never looked to be travelling well throughout the race and although Aussie Rules finished ahead of his stable companion Hurricane Cat, he never landed a blow at the principals.

Instead the Classic became a 25th birthday treat for Christophe Soumillon who cast aside his own Epsom disappointment where he rode the Visindar into fifth place behind Sir Percy.

On home ground in Chantilly it was a different story and Darsi, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, provided the French champion jockey with a third victory in the race after Anaaba Blue (2001) and Dalakhani (2003).

Darsi dropped back from winning at a mile and a half on the course on his previous start but a strong pace set by Hazeymm helped his cause and he stayed on too strongly for the fast-finishing Best Name by a length.

Arras completed a home clean-sweep in third while Art Deco was best of the visitors in fourth.

"We were waiting in the stalls for so long he fell asleep and I couldn't wake him up again," said Fallon afterwards. "He was running on at the finish but it was too late."

The Irish Derby is a now a possible option for Darsi who delighted his owner, the Aga Khan. "We weren't sure he had enough speed to drop back in distance but he is from a very high-class family and I am delighted with him," he said. "There is a chance he will go for the Irish Derby."

Charlie Egerton is usually more associated with the likes of Cheltenham and Aintree but Art Deco did the Lambourn trainer proud with a fine fourth under Frankie Dettori.

"I think he will be better at a mile and a half and we will consider the Irish Derby if he comes out okay. Frankie said he just didn't have enough experience on the fast ground," said Egerton.

Earlier Fallon had an easy success on Moss Vale who followed up a recent Greenlands Stakes success at the Curragh with victory in the Group Two Prix du Gros-Chene.

"It took me a while to work this horse out but he has been bouncing since the Curragh and we had to run here," said trainer Dandy Nicholls.