LACK of an obvious front-runner was a concern prior to the Qatar Prix Niel and James Doyle reaped rich reward for grabbing the bull by the horns aboard Brundtland. The pair made virtually every yard of the running and getting the better of a duel with Hunting Horn that lasted more than two furlongs to score by a short-head.

The winning time was five seconds slower than the Vermeille and the best Arc prospect to come out of the race may be Neufbosc, runner-up to Kew Gardens in the Grand Prix de Paris. He looked in need of this first run for two months and was only pushed out with hands and heels by jockey Cristian Demuro to get within a length and a half of the principals.