Danedream stuns field to win Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Published
German horse Danedream captured the coveted Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in a record time at a sweltering Longchamp.
The 20-1 three-year-old won by five lengths from Shareta, and Snow Fairy completed an all-filly top three.
Workforce, bidding to become the first back-to-back Arc winner for 33 years, finished well adrift in 12th place.
Earlier Frankie Dettori celebrated the 500th Group-race winner of his career when he rode Dabirsim to victory in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Danedream's time of two minutes 24.49 seconds eclipsed the previous best in the showpiece, set by Peintre Celebre in 1997, by 11/100's of a second.
Ridden by Andrasch Starke, Peter Schiergen's filly sprinted clear in devastating fashion inside the final furlong to add to her two Group One victories in her homeland.
The only other German-trained winner in Europe's most prestigious race, first run in 1920, was Star Appeal, ridden by Greville Starkey, in 1975.
Schiergen said: "This is my best moment in racing. I don't believe it - she was such an easy winner.
"It's fantastic and she is the best horse I have trained. It's a great moment. She is a small filly with a big, big heart and there's no better race to win.
"I have trained some Group winners, but she is the greatest filly I have ever trained. She won her last two races very easily, but I didn't think she would be such an easy winner. This is a really big day for German racing."
Under perfect clear blue skies in Paris, the early running in the big race was made by 66-1 shot Shareta, thought to be merely a pacesetter for the highly-fancied Sarafina, but she held on admirably while the Aga Khan's pre-race favourite was seventh.
Ed Dunlop's Snow Fairy had the perfect trip throughout under Dettori, but could not match the winner's turn of foot.
Snow Fairy had the perfect trip throughout under Frankie Dettori, but could not match the winner's turn of foot.
Dettori said of Snow Fairy: "She ran a super race. A furlong and a half out I thought we had a big chance but when the winner kicked that was that."
Dunlop added: "I'm very proud to be third in an Arc, it was a great run and she was the leading older horse in the race. It was probably the race of her life.
"We ran with a view to coming from off the pace and I was delighted with her effort.
"That was only her fourth run, so hopefully she'll go back to Japan for the race she won last year or maybe even the Japan Cup or Hong Kong. She stays in training next year.
"It's great for the German filly, she was exceptional today."
- Published2 March 2012