Europe's biggest classic weekend moves from Epsom to Chantilly on Sunday when an evenly matched field of 15 will contest the $1.92 million Prix du Jockey-Club, or French Derby.

Run at 1 5/16 miles past the chateau-lined backstretch 30 miles north of Paris, this year's Jockey-Club is notable for the absence of France's leading 3-year-olds. Visindar and Linda's Lad were to run Saturday in the Epsom Derby, while Gentlewave won the Italian Derby on May 21. All three are passing the Jockey-Club's 1 5/16 miles in favor of 1 1/2 miles in foreign climes.

Staying power was the order of the day at Epsom on Friday as Shirocco outlasted Ouija Board in the Coronation Cup while Alexandrova stormed to a most impressive victory in the English Oaks.

Shirocco gave trainer Andre Fabre his sixth win in the $466,000 Coronation Cup but his first since 1996, when he won it with Swain.

Shirocco, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf winner, set a slow early pace but relinquished the lead to a keen 2005 BC Turf runner-up Ace after they had gone a half-mile of the 1 1/2-mile contest.

Breeders' Cup winners Shirocco and Ouija Board will go head to head Friday in the Group 1, $470,000 Coronation Cup on an Epsom card that also includes the 228th running of the English Oaks.

Shirocco has prospered since his victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf last October, landing the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket over the Coronation Cup distance of 1 1/2 miles on May 7. While the Newmarket track bears no resemblance to the bizarre twists and turns at Epsom, his trainer, Andre Fabre, knows a thing or two about what it takes to win at Epsom.

It has been 30 years since a French-trained horse crossed the English Channel to win the Epsom Derby. On Saturday, trainer Andre Fabre can end France's drought when he saddles Visindar, the 3-2 favorite in the 227th running of the race.

Undefeated in three starts, Visindar is a son of the 2000 Epsom Derby winner, Sinndar, and, like him, is owned by the Aga Khan, a man who is no stranger to the Derby winner's circle, having also won with Shergar and Sharastani.

Meisho Samson completed a classic double at Tokyo on Sunday as he reeled in the pacesetting Admire Main to win the $3 million Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby. Meisho Samson has now won the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, as he had previously accounted for the 1 1/4-mile Japanese 2000 Guineas on April 16.

Hurricane Run gave clear evidence that he is better than ever as he cruised to victory over two outclassed rivals in the $318,000 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in Ireland on Sunday.

Meisho Samson completed a classic double at Tokyo on Sunday as he reeled in the pacesetting Admire Main to win the $3 million Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby. The Opera House colt has now won the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown as he had previously accounted for the 1 1/4-mile Japanese 2000 Guineas on April 16.

Hurricane Run gave clear evidence that he is better than ever as he cruised to victory over two outclassed rivals in the $318,000 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

George Washington sank in the quagmire that was The Curragh on Saturday when he went down by two lengths in the $508,000 Irish 2000 Guineas to British invader Araafa, a horse he had beaten into fourth when winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago.

The $3 million Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby, at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday will be a highly competitive affair, but one that is unlikely to produce a winner as brilliant as last year's, Deep Impact.