Cachet just missed out as Mikel Delzangles’ Mangoustine prevailed after a thrilling finish to the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp.

The filly was placed third at the same track in the Prix de la Grotte in April, coming home behind Rosacea in a race that often acts as a trial for the French 1000 Guineas itself.

Rosacea was the favourite for French Classic as a result, but it was 12-1 chance Mangoustine who was able to reverse the form under Gerald Mosse when denying George Boughey’s Newmarket Guineas heroine Cachet by just a head in a tight group finish.

The Dark Angel three-year-old is owned by French-American basketball star Tony Parker, who told Sky Sports Racing: “I feel amazing, it’s like a dream.

“After a year investing in this world, I never thought I’d be winning a race like this.

“I just want to say thanks to everybody, it’s really a team effort and it’s unbelievable.”

When asked how the victory compared to his NBA successes, Parker said: “It’s kind of similar, it can’t be better than this. It’s a big race, it’s one of the best races in the world, so to win this with Mangoustine is unbelievable.

“Maybe we will come to the UK, I know that if she went well today we would think about Ascot. We’ll see, we’ll talk with the coach, but if the next thing is the UK that would be great.”

Mosse felt the filly’s relaxed style of running was an asset and hopes connections will opt to head to Ascot in June.

“We had a lovely run. She doesn’t panic, she relaxed well and when I said ‘it’s time to go’, she really gave me a good feel,” he said.

“She kicked really strongly and fought to the line. She always kept something in her pocket to the end.”

Regarding Ascot he added: “Ask the trainer, I’m only the pilot! I would love to go, she could go, she has the ability, definitely.”

Delzangles – who won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Makfi in 2010 – ruled out going for the French Oaks.

He said: “It’s not necessarily how you would have wished for the race to pan out tactically, but she didn’t get hampered. Last year, we harboured some doubts about her ability to stay. Would she really stay a mile? Given the way the race unfolded, she saw out every inch of the trip.

“She toughed it out when it came to the fight, and the race certainly wasn’t won, as the British filly kept plugging away. She’s a great filly. I don’t think she’ll stay much further. I made the mistake of running her aunt (Flotilla) in the Prix de Diane Longines, and I won’t do that again.”

Boughey felt Cachet’s draw in stall 10 was not the most competitive but is emboldened to go for the Coronation Stakes after her fine effort in defeat.

“She’s so tenacious, I think the draw might have cost her a length coming out of the stalls and James (Doyle) said she slightly pecked on landing coming out,” he said.

“It was a massive run, it hasn’t been done for 12 years to come back two weeks later and win a Guineas and she was very close.

“I think she’ll go to Ascot, she’s in the Coronation. Fortunately with the good horses the map plans itself, I think I’ve got more confidence going for the stiffer mile at Ascot after that.

“She was very tenacious to the line and possibly we might have made a bit more use of her in hindsight knowing that.

“She’s got a nice break now, she’s got four weeks and the two weeks from Newmarket to here is quick – she’ll go to Ascot.”