Champion
mare Enable was out to make history in the Group I Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
overnight, bidding to become the first horse ever to win three in a row, but she
came up short with Galileo stallion Waldgeist storming home to win by a length
and three-quarters.
Enable's jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer John Gosden were gracious in defeat,
accepting their mare had been beaten by a better horse on the day, although wet
ground was seen as a contributing factor to the loss.
"I struggled in the first bit of the race and let her find her feet,"
said Dettori.
"She came good for me in the false
straight and I waited for the 300 (furlong and a half out) but I didn't find as
much as I thought I'd left and I just folded a little bit. The winner was too
good for me today."
"She's run a blinder and I'm thrilled with her performance," said
Gosden. "We lost our most potent weapon, the turn of foot in the latter
stage of the race but I'm very proud of her."
A high class triple Group I winner before the Arc, Waldgeist has chased Enable
home many times and never been able to beat her until now.
"I have so much admiration and respect for Enable that I'm proud Waldgeist
could beat her," said his trainer Andre Fabre.
Fabre said the future of Waldgeist will be discussed with owners Gestut
Ammerland and Newsells Park, with immediate retirement not out of the question.
Waldgeist is a half-brother to Group II winner Waldlied from the Group III
winning Monsun mare Waldlerche, a half-sister to Group I St Leger winner Masked
Marvel.