IT was an Arc like never before, and one that will never be forgotten. Sottsass, bearing the name of a famous Italian architect, improved on his effort in the race 12 months earlier when he was third to Waldgeist and Enable, and led home a French-trained 1-2-3 in one of the world’s most prestigious races.

Even as he did so without the formidable challenge of the Ballydoyle battalion, the race was one of the highest quality, and John Magnier and partners will have gained comfort from the fact that they own half of the winner and the four-year-old is destined for a stud career at Coolmore. Though he brings with him a new sire line for the world’s leading stallion farm, Sottsass is out of a mare by Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), the multiple champion sire whose achievements are unsurpassed.