Throughout the history of the Prix de lArc de Triomphe, there have been many different winners. These include Prince of Wales's stake, Waldgeist, and Vaguely Noble. Each of these winners have had a special significance to the Prix de lArc deTriomphe.
During his career, Vaguely Noble won over 70 graded stakes races. The Irish-bred racehorse was one of the highest rated horses in Europe. He was also a successful stallion and broodmare sire. He was the leading sire of horses in Great Britain and Ireland in 1973 and 1974.
Vaguely Noble was based in Kentucky, where he stood at Gainesway Farm. In 1968, John R. Gaines bought a 25% share of the horse for $1.25 million. The price set a world record for a thoroughbred at public auction.
Vaguely Noble made his public debut in late August. He was sent off as evens favourite and took a long time to get going. However, he eased to a victory over Zeddaan. Vaguely Noble was ridden by Bill Williamson.
The son of Never Bend was a winner of the Derby, Eclipse and King George in the summer of 1971. He was also a winner of classic races in England and Canada. His sire, Ian Balding, also had a successful career in Europe, notably winning the Coronation Cup. He also won the Kentucky Derby.
Vaguely Noble was a leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1973. He won over 70 graded stakes races, and was the leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1982. He was also the leading broodmare sire of horses in Great Britain and Ireland during the 1990s.
In 2001, Vaguely Noble's grandson Sakhee won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by six lengths. In addition to being the highest rated horse in Europe, he was also the highest priced. He was rated at 11/5 for the 2001 Prix de l'Arc deTriomphe.
Vaguely Noble won the Prix de l'Arc in 1968, but failed to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in 1978. He was defeated in the Prix de Chantilly, which is also run at Longchamp over 11 furlongs. In 1977, he placed second behind Bold Ruler with 263 starters. He also won the Sandwich Stakes at Ascot on soft ground.
Having dominated for the sixth straight time in a Group One race, Alpinista (Frankel) won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. Her victory marked a fifth straight Group One win for Sir Mark Prescott's stable, and gave Kirsten Rausing the homebred mare's sixth straight victory.
The Prix de l'Arc de l'Triomphe is a flat horse race held over 2,400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. It is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It awards prizes according to the results.
The field was made up of 20 horses. The race was a showcase for French thoroughbred breeding. It was held on the first Sunday of October. The race was cancelled twice during World War II. The race is often regarded as the most prestigious flat horse race in the world.
Alpinista was drawn stall six and was ridden by Luke Morris. Her draw was better than the one Torquator Tasso had, and Alpinista was able to stretch out and travel prominently throughout the race.
At the start, Alpinista was a three-to-one favourite. The betting was even more lopsided when heavy rain fell on the course at Longchamp for ten minutes before the race. Despite the weather, Prescott and his team entered the race with a strong chance of victory.
Alpinista was drawn a bit closer to the rail than Torquator Tasso, and stayed in the running in the final furlong. But she was unable to challenge Algometer (Archipenko), and the Japanese stayer was the early pacesetter.
After a steady start, Alpinista went on to lead by a half-length. Vadeni closed on Alpinista with a furious burst, but Alpinista held on to win.
TORQUATOR TASSO has the chance to add to his treasury of Arc de Triomphe victories. The three-year-old, trained by Marcel Weiss, defeated rivals Tarnawa and Hurricane Lane last year at ParisLongchamp. He is the third winner from Germany. He is a son of the famous sire Alderflug and a half-sister to Group 2 scorer Tusked Wings.
The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 race held in Paris. It is considered the most famous race in the world. Torquator Tasso will be ridden by six-time Arc de Triomphe winner Frankie Dettori.
Last year, Torquator Tasso came into the race in tremendous form, winning the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) in the build-up to the Arc. He was also a runner-up in the July 3 Grosser Hansa-Preis (G2) and the King George at Ascot in the summer. He is the third German horse to win the Arc.
TORQUATOR TASSO, however, is not the favourite this time around. The field will also include three-year-old colts ONESTO and VADENI, as well as Japan's Stay Foolish.
On the eve of the race, ParisLongchamp was hit by heavy rain. The track was soggy, with the rain causing the race to be slow. Luckily, the weather cleared up a bit as the race began.
The draw was relatively uneventful, with Torquator Tasso securing a stall 18 position in the mile-and-a-half monument. He was flanked by Dermot Weld's mare Tarnawa, which closed on Adayar with half a furlong to go. The three leaders then stayed in a narrow gap. Torquator Tasso then began to gain wider ground. Eventually, he sped away from French jockey Christophe Soumillon on Tarnawa. He was able to gain a short lead on the final turn, which he held on the run to the finish.
Despite missing out on the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) last year, Waldgeist swept past Enable in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday at Longchamp to earn a guaranteed start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The win was the third straight for Andre Fabre, who is the all-time leading trainer in France with 29 victories. He has also won five Breeders' Cup races.
Waldgeist, a son of Galileo's Epsom Derby winning son New Approach, was a winner in his first two starts as a two-year-old. He followed up with a victory in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. The three-year-old had a strong pedigree with Galileo's sister, Waldlerche, as well as Not Misbegotten, the dam of Nahoodh, a group 1 winner.
After a slow start, Waldgeist made a move in mid-track, as he was heading towards history. He took control with a furlong to go, then pushed his way through to win. Then he finished strong, roaring past Enable in the final furlong to score by 1 3/4 lengths.
Enable was the 4-6 favourite, with Aidan O'Brien's Japan and Sottsass looming wider. Enable seemed to be working out a winning trip on soft ground, but Waldgeist came into his own. He made a strong move at the head of the field when Enable advanced to the draft behind him. He was just getting stronger as the yards added up.
Enable tried to win his third straight Prix de l'Arc de Troomphe but Waldgeist pulled away and won by a length and three quarters. It was the first French-trained five-year-old to win a Group 1 race since 1947. He was ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, who won four races at Longchamp the day before.
Located at Longchamp, France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat race. The competition, held on the first Sunday of October, attracts the world's best middle-distance thoroughbreds.
The race is run over a distance of one mile and four furlongs. It is open to horses four years of age and older. Traditionally held on the second day of a five-day Royal Ascot meeting, the race is also regarded as one of the richest races at Royal Ascot.
Runners from overseas will compete in the race. The French government funds the race through Loterie Nationale. This enabled the prize fund to increase rapidly.
Several of the world's top middle-distance thoroughbreds have won the race. In the recent past, the Australian champion So You Think won.
The stable of Aidan O'Brien has produced three winners in the past twelve years. This includes the winner of last year's race, Lord North, and runner-up Alpinista. These talented horses could prove to be formidable contenders in the Arc.
Appleby's talented runner has already proven stamina to compete in the Arc. Hopefully, this talented runner will be able to make a successful return to the action in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
Godolphin have produced a number of winners from the British Isles. This includes the stable's Godolphin runners in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, Hurricane Lane and Grenadier Guards.
Several of the top thoroughbreds will compete in this year's Prince of Wales's Stakes. Aidan O'Brien is expected to saddle seven-time Group 1 winner Magical and Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) winner Mogul. Also in the field are ten British trained horses.