WALDGEIST DENIES ENABLE HISTORIC SUCCESS -WINS FABRE AN EIGHTH ARC

Emotions and expectations ran high as Enable made her way down to the starting stalls as she attempted to write a piece of history. The 2019 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 6, was the most eagerly-anticipated Flat race for a generation, as Enable sought to make history by becoming the first three-time winner of Europe’s premier middle-distance contest. The throng of racegoers who packed the stands at Longchamp were left stunned after the fairytale third Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory for Enable, the daughter of Nathaniel, failed to materialise, with the heroine running a game race to finish second. Her conqueror was five-year-old Waldgeist, fourth last year and third to Enable in July’s Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Victory for the five-year-old son of Galileo, Waldgeist, owned and bred by GestutAmmerland and Newsells Park Stud, provided trainer Andre Fabre, already the record-setting trainer for the 2400m race, with an eighth victory. For jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, this was a first win in Europe’s premier all-age contest.

Continuous rain overnight turned the Longchamp ground very soft, but the pace was decent thanks to the last time out Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Baden scorer Ghaiyyath (Dubawi), who moved over from his wide draw. Fierement (Deep Impact) and Magical (Galileo) tracked him, with Enable (Nathaniel) eventually getting to the rail, but five lengths off the leaders. Meanwhile, the winner, who at a couple of moments early on was nudged along, was given a patient ride and sat in midpack. Magical went to the front shortly after entering the straight, with Ghaiyyath’s tank emptying to nought in a matter of strides, but she had a target on her back with Enable tracking her. Frankie Dettori sent the dual winner for home 400m out and from 300m she went clear.

However, she was in trouble in the closing stages as her stamina began to ebb away on the softest surface she has probably encountered. The winner was also ridden 400m out, but he was in between rivals and had to be switched outside of Japan (Galileo) soon after. Once in the clear he steadily closed on Enable, but the momentum only changed in the closing 100m, where Waldgeist was at his strongest. Having taken the lead with 50m to go, he ran out the length and three quarters winner from a gallant runnerup. Sottsass (Siyouni), the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club hero, was the same distance back in third, while Japan was fourth, a further half length away. The front four, separated by four lengths, were six lengths and more in front of Magical, with the remaining seven runners strung out all up the Longchamp home straight.

After the race Fabre commented: “I’ve immense admiration and respect for Enable, but am also very proud of Waldgeist. I really liked the way he raced at Ascot [in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes]. He was beaten on that occasion, but he ran very well and he didn’t have a hard race. He had a break after that. Pierre Charles [Boudot] was similarly delighted by the horse’s effort and trumpeted, “We’re going to win the Arc”. He was very confident. The horse’s preparation went very well and he was in very good condition coming into the race. He has continued to strengthen up and has become more mature. Waldgeist is a calm horse and straight forward to train. I must confess that I was very worried in the lead-up to the race on account of the rain and, in the Prix Ganay, when the going was good, he floated over the ground. However, he did win on a heavy track as a juvenile and has won on all types of ground. The Arc is one of the world’s great races, and the win is just reward for the efforts of undertaken by the Dietrich von Boetticher-Andreas Jacobs partnership. As regards what happens next, it will be the owners who will decide the next step, as the horse could be retired to stud.”

Waldgeist now has four Gr.1s on his CV, with this win supplementing his wins in the 2016 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last year and the Prix Ganay at Longchamp earlier this year. The first winner for France since Treve took her second Arc in 2014, Walgeist comes from one of the finest German families around at present. He is the first foal out of the Gr.3 Prix Penelope winner Waldlerche (Monsun), whose second foal is last year’s Gr.2 Prix de Malleret heroine Waldlied (New Approach). Waldlerche is a half-sister to the Gr.1 St Leger hero and sire Masked Marvel (Montjeu).

Enable, homebred by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, was beaten for just the second time in 15 starts and the 10-time G1 winner is still a leading contender to be crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year. Enable was crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year in 2017 and if taking the honours again in 2019 would become just the third horse to achieve this feat following Ouija Board (2004 & 2006) and Frankel (2011 & 2012).