Longchamp fired off four Grade Ones in a row on Sunday afternoon, and it proved what this sport is all about. It also produced the winner of Europe's greatest race on turf for our Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt. In the early action, horse and rider, Var and Frankie Dettori were as one from the gate to the wire. Frankie pushing and shoving. Var responding to each push, and finding more courage during every one of the five furlongs of The Prix de l'Abbaye. An ex-patriot, like many of us in the crowded press box, Var was a better fit on the straight uphill grass course than he was when competing on Aqueduct's inner track or on the dirt at Churchill Downs last year. Var! Thirty minutes later it was time for the fillies and mares in the Grade One Prix de l'Opera, at a mile an a quarter. Irish trainer Jim Bolger unleashed a rested Alexander Goldrun. Sounds like a colt, runs like one. Alexander Goldrun, indeed. Remember Six Perfections, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner last year? The barn of Pascal Bary has another one in Divine Proportions. Undefeated in five starts, she ran down the John Gosden trained Titian Time to score by two widening lengths. Regally bred, she shows Mr. Prospector and Miesque on the sire side, with Northern Dancer and Mill Reef on the bottom side. I shudder to think of what she would bring at auction after her Sunday tour de force in the Grade One Marcel Boussac at one mile. Divine Proportions. Divine. The most exciting finish of the day was sandwiched between the Boussac and The Arc. Another Grade One. Another heart stopper. The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for 2 year-olds. Oratorio won the race, but Early March showed me the heart of a true racehorse. If I had one of these babies to own it would be Early March, a son of Dansili. With Olivier Pesilier aboard, the youngster traded blows with Layman, and on pure courage put his head back in front near the wire. But the battle had taken its' toll on the front runners. Jamie Spencer rode a great race to be the key to victory aboard Oratorio. Early March bullied his way to the front near the wire. Oratorio was a length behind. But in only nine strides, Spencer found an opening near the fence and the three horse photo found the Aiden O'Brien Irish-bred the victor by a nostril. Oratorio. For today. The same silks that graced the winners circle on Divine Proportions were a blur on Thierry Gillet, as he guided Bago to a sparking victory in the 83rd. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the Niarhos family and English trainer Jonathan Pease. Maria Niarchos-Gouaze, head of the racing family, announced her intention to point The Arc winner to The Breeders' Cup Classic, on the dirt at Lone Star Park at the end of the month. Pease, who has won Breeders' Cup events with Spinning World and Tikkanen, says Bago the best horse he has ever conditioned. Bago. Bank on it. The fact that he ran so well against the likes of Sulamani while pointing to The Arc was my main reason for picking the 10-1 shot in this column on Thursday. And I would not hesitate to pick him in the Breeders' Cup Classic with one caveat. Pease should get a top American rider to be the pilot at Lone Star. In my book, that could make the difference between winner and also ran in the most important race left this year.