Ridden by Claudius Lalanne, as a three-year-old Banassa won the Prix Cleopatre and was second in the French Classic, the Prix de Diane.
The win established Gay Mecene as a contender for the French Classic Races but when moved up to Group One class for the Prix Lupin on 14 May he finished fourth behind Acamas, Pyjama Hunt and Turville after having briefly held the lead in the straight.
He followed these important wins by defeating older horses in winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, thus becoming the first of only two horses to ever win all three of the French Classic Races open to colts.
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