PARIS, France -- Bago proved the doubters wrong as he stayed on strongly to catch Cherry Mix in the dying strides to win the 83rd running of the $1.92 million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Bago's brilliant late run from the middle of the 19-runner field by the Jonathan Pease trainee means that we could see the Arc winner in the Breeders' Cup Classic for the first time.

"It has been the plan all along to send him to Lone Star for the Breeders' Cup Classic," said the Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper. "He is now a Group 1 winner at a mile (Criterium International, 1 1/8 miles (Prix Jean Prat), 1 1/2 miles (Grand Prix de Paris), and 1 1/2miles (the Arc). We have always though he is an exceptional horse. The Classic is certainly in the picture. Just give us a few days to see how he comes out of the race before we make a final decision"

Cooper pointed out that another son of Nashwan, Swain, nearly succeeded in the Classic after having finished third in the 1995 Arc.

Last year's European juvenile champion, Bago had been beaten into third three weeks ago in his Arc prep, the 1 1/2-mile Prix Niel. He started as the 7.70-1 fourth choice under regular rider Thierry Gillet, and his time for the 12 furlongs on good ground was 2:25.00, slower only than the time of 2:24.60 posted by 1997 Arc winner Peintre Celebre.

Runner-up Cherry Mix, the winner last time of the Grand Prix de Deauville, will not run in the Breeders' Cup Turf. "Too young," sniffed Andre Fabre of his 3-year-old Linamix colt. However, English and Irish Oaks winner Ouija Bord, who stormed home in traffic to get up for third, a length behind Cherry Mix, is being considered as a possibility for the Filly & Mare Turf, although her owner Lord Derby would have to ante up a $120,000 supplementary fee to get her into that race.

Prospect Park, the surprise favorite at 5-1, fifnihed fifth, while Japanese invader Tap Dance City, who led most of the way until the quarter pole, weakened to finish seventeenth.