ALPINISTA (126) made light of the deluge of rain which descended on ParisLongchamp in the minutes before the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to secure a famous win.

There was no hiding place from the outset in a fiercely run race as Titleholder set a searching gallop in the conditions, while the tempo increased still further when Wayne Lordan asked Broome to join the Japanese runner on the approach to the false straight.

The result was a final time of 2m 35.71secs, a figure 1.91secs quicker than recorded by Torquator Tasso on less testing ground last year.

In fact, looking a year further back, 2020 winner Sottsass clocked 2m 39.30secs on ground described as heavy, so Sunday’s Arc must be viewed as a vintage renewal of Europe’s most prestigious flat race.

A closing 600m sectional of 39.91secs reflected the early exertions the winner required to sit comfortably in fourth place before moving to the lead when Titleholder wilted in the ground.

Although Vadeni (125) and Torquator Tasso (125) emerged from midfield and the rear of the field to post a faster closing sectional, neither threatened to overhaul the daughter of Frankel, the relevant data for the pair being 39.39secs and 39.52secs.

Context

The context of how slow the principals finished is provided by Place Du Carrousel covering the same distance of ground in 36.44secs in her Prix de l’Opera win. However, I doubt André Fabre’s filly would have achieved the feat if asked to match the early fractions of the feature race.

In fact, with 200m to run in the Prix de l’Opera victory looked unlikely for Place Du Carrousel (109) as Nashwa (108) appeared to have the Group 1 field of fillies beaten.

Hollie Doyle rode the perfect race aboard John and Thady Gosden’s filly, seizing control of the race from a high draw and dictating what looked the perfect pace to see out the mile and a quarter.

Unfortunately, the last 200m proved beyond the stamina of the daughter of Frankel who slowed from 12.06 and 12.12 in the previous 200m sections to cover the final segment of the race in 13.21secs.

In turn the winner also slowed, although in covering the final 200m in 12.58secs, she claimed victory by three-quarters of a length.

Above The Curve (108) look primed to be involved in the finish before failing to find the necessary speed to reach a challenging position at the head of the straight, while My Astra (106), a place further behind, finished to good effect on her favoured ground, stopping the clock for her sectional at 36.68secs.

Belbek faster than Kinross in the Lagardere finish

THE Platinum Queen (110) became the first two-year-old since 1978 to win the Prix de l’Abbaye although unlike the Arc the time was slower than achieved by the previous two winners, A Case Of You and Wooded.

However, it was some consolation for Hollie Doyle who was seen at her strongest aboard Richard Fahey’s all-conquering juvenile who held on gamely when challenged late by White Lavender (110).

Karl Burke’s runner-up stopped the clock for her closing sectional in 35.05secs as she led home the Irish and British contingent, in doing so clocking a faster closing sectional than the winner who covered the final 600m in 35.44secs.

The notable finishers from the rear were Moss Tucker (104+) and New York City (102+) who finished in 34.89secs and 34.79secs respectively.

Juveniles

Of the two juvenile contests which opened Sunday’s card, the victory of Belbek (113+) looks significantly quicker when adjusting for distance and comparing the finishing splits.

Although partially aligned to enjoying the better of the ground, André Fabre’s colt also covered the seven furlongs 1.42secs quicker than Kinross (110+) achieved in winning the Prix de la Foret.

The relevant closing sectionals of the three winners were Belbek 35.04secs, Blue Rose Cen (106) 36.13secs and Kinross 36.53secs.

Belbek may be in line for a trip to Britain for the Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster for which he will need to be supplemented. If allowed to take his chance the extra furlong may see him improve further judged on how he ran through the line on Sunday.

Shartash (108) could not reach a challenging position, although still covered the closing sectional in 35.24secs. Johnny Murtagh’s colt has previously finished a length and three-quarters behind Al Riffa and seven lengths adrift of Little Big Bear.

Anmaat and Erevann earn Group 1 shots

IRISH and Britain runners dominated the Group 1 contests on Saturday with Kyprios (116) the undoubted star performer, crowning his season as king of the staying division with a facile 20-length victory in the Prix du Cadran.

The two-and-a-half-mile contest was the strongest run of the staying races, evidenced by the clock and the way the field fell apart as the runners climbed the hill in the back straight. Kyprios moved serenely through the contest and was alone in remaining on the bridle entering the home straight.

There is no doubt Aidan O’Brien’s colt finished tired as he covered the final 600m in 41.09secs, which was by some way the slowest on the day. However, in the context of the race it was far superior to his rivals with runner-up Almacado Gree (96) completing his race in 43.63secs and third-placed Tashkhan (94) covering the ground in 44.33secs.

Speediest

Sea La Rosa (109+) produced the speediest finish of the stayers’ to win the Prix de Royallieu in impressive fashion from Jannah Flower (108+) who finished even faster. The pair posting closing efforts of 36.10secs and 35.57secs respectively.

William Haggas’ filly has now won both races when competing over a mile and six furlongs, demonstrating speed here to match the stamina which saw her prevail at Goodwood in July. The daughter of Sea The Stars holds an entry in the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes over two furlongs shorter at Ascot later this month.

Al Qareem (103) set the ball rolling for the British raiders in the opening race with Ryan Moore sensibly ignoring pace setter Ermelie in the early exchanges to mount his challenge at the head of the false straight. Karl Burke’s gelding hung tough in front to post a closing sectional of 38.48secs and deny Sober by a nose.

Duke De Sessa (102+) was still last when the winner set sail, running home strongly to stop the clock at 37.82secs for his closing sectional. The son of Lope De Vega has form figures of 113 when soft appears in the going description.

Anmaat (123+) took another step up in grade in his stride, clocking the fastest time figure of the day when adjusted for distance to win the Prix Dollar and earn himself a ticket to contest a Group 1.

Owen Burrows’ four-year-old jumped smartly from the stalls and travelled strongly in the mile and a quarter contest before Jim Crowley asked his mount to seal the race entering the final 400m.

However, the winning of the race was not as straightforward as it first looked as Junko (123) delivered an equally strong challenge. André Fabre’s gelding headed the eventual winner who would not be denied and fought back tenaciously. In the process the duo delivered closing sectionals of 36.33secs and 36.23secs respectively.

Blistering

Erevann (120+) saved the best finishing effort for last in terms of the closing efforts in the group races, posting a blistering 35.20secs for his closing 600m in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

The Group 2 contest was only marginally slower than Anmaat, suggesting Jean-Claude Rouget’s colt is also heading towards contesting a Group 1. He was a rare positive on the week for the beleaguered Christophe Soumillon.

Avenge

An entry in the Queen Elizabeth II Sakes and a chance to avenge the defeat suffered at the hands of Inspiral may well present that top-level opportunity. If the son of Dubawi runs to the same standard at Ascot, the Cheveley Park filly will have to bring her A-game to prevail.

Regular Arc weekend performer The Revenant (117) closed to within a length and a half at the line, requiring a closing sectional of 35.47secs to do so, while Checkandchallenge (113) also finished faster than winners on the card.

The son of Fast Company stopped the clock at 35.82secs for his sectional, having been the first of the field to come under a ride.