DUAL Classic winner Gold Ship (Naosuke Sugai/Hiroyuki Uchida) came out much the best in a major clash of Japan's foremost Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contenders in the Takarazuka Kinen.
Despite not looking an easy ride for much of the journey, the grey four-year-old son of Stay Gold powered down the straight to score by three and a half lengths over outsider Danon Ballade, who edged Japan Cup winner Gentildonna for second.