Alpinista wins Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for trainer Sir Mark Prescott
- Published
The five-year-old Alpinista was winning for the eighth consecutive time
Alpinista won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the 74-year-old British trainer Sir Mark Prescott.
Luke Morris guided the grey mare to victory in Europe's richest race for the biggest success in 53 years of training for the popular Prescott.
"I'm lucky to get a good one at this time of my career," said the Newmarket trainer at Paris Longchamp.
Alpinista beat Vadeni, under Christophe Soumillon, with 2021 winner Torquator Tasso third for Frankie Dettori.
The Harrow School-educated Prescott, a renowned raconteur, lives alone and gets up before 4am every day.
The sixth successive Group One victory for Alpinista - owned and bred by Kirsten Rausing - reduced Prescott to tears and earned prize money of about £2.5m.
The 7-2 favourite, a daughter of the great Frankel, was welcomed back to the winner's enclosure with raucous cheers.
"It has been a great day, the best day of my racing life," said Prescott, who was making his first trip to Longchamp for 21 years.
"She's does everything right, she made training easy, she's got a little bit better every time."
He also trained the mare's mother and grandmother.
Prescott, pictured with Morris, took out a training licence in 1970
Japanese hope Titleholder set a good pace on heavy ground but Morris, always travelling sweetly on five-year-old Alpinista, hit the front approaching the final furlong and she stayed on stoutly to repel her closest challengers.
Morris, 33, showed little sign of nerves on his first ride in the race but was overcome after he crossed the line.
"It is very much the pinnacle of my career - I cannot thank them enough for giving me the opportunity and then to deliver for them on the day," he said.
"I cannot describe how emotional I am. I was holding back tears on my way in and usually I am in control of those emotions."
Vadeni was half a length back for Soumillon, who was allowed to ride, with his a 60-day ban for elbowing rival Rossa Ryan out of the saddle on Friday starting later this month.