American Post's Vodafone Derby hopes took a severe jolt after an incident-packed renewal of the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp yesterday.
Despite his victory, the race did anything but cement his Epsom claims and Ladbrokes removed the colt altogether from their ante-post betting on the blue riband.
Coral didn't go that far but he can be backed with them at 10-1, having been 5-1 before yesterday's race. William Hill took a similar view and go 7-1 from 11-2.
With the home favourite a 4-11 chance to stretch his unbeaten record to six, Aidan O'Brien's Antonius Pius burst out of the pack a furlong out under Jamie Spencer and looked to spoil the party as he went a length clear with less than 100 yards to run.
But O'Brien's nightmare start to the 2004 Flat season continued as disaster struck when the colt jinked violently to the right. He cannoned into the running rail and all but came to a complete standstill as his rider struggled to keep the partnership intact.
And much to the delight of his supporters, American Post - who had failed to pick up in the manner expected when asked to quicken by Richard Hughes - suddenly found himself a most fortunate winner of the race as he passed the post half a length ahead of Diamond Green, who was badly hampered by the incident). Godolphin's Byron was a head back in third.