Waldgeist stuns Enable in Arc as Victor Ludorum sweeps to G1 glory
Pierre-Charles Boudot rides Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist (left) towards the finish line followed by Enable during the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe race at the Longchamp in Paris on Sunday.
Making his Pattern-race debut following two easy wins in lesser company, Victor Ludorum was soon settled in fourth of the seven runners by Mickael Barzalona.
The Andre Fabre-trained colt travelled strongly into the race and displayed a sparkling turn of foot entering the final furlong. He collared long-time leader Alson with just under half a furlong to race before readily quickening away to score by three-quarters of a length in 1m 44.15s on very soft ground.
Victor Ludorum is the third unbeaten Godolphin juvenile sired by Shamardal to win a G1 race this year, following brilliant Vincent O’Brien National Stakes scorer Pinatubo and Earthlight, who captured both the Darley Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.
Fabre said: “I was very impressed with Victor Ludorum because of his style – he is a very easy-going horse, who never shows much but is quiet and relaxed. He is easy to ride, like all the good horses.
“He is not too big, not too small and everything is neat. He has a beautiful action and, if I would dare, I would say that he is a bit of a Mill Reef type horse.
“Personally, I would aim Victor Ludorum at a French Classic campaign, with the French Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Poulains) and the Prix du Jockey Club.”
Meanwhile, Waldgeist denied Enable a historic third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory on Sunday in a thrilling duel at Paris Longchamp, giving French trainer Andre Fabre his eighth win in the race.
John Gosden’s odds-on favourite Enable, ridden by Frankie Dettori, looked set to become the first Horse to win the Arc three times in the 98th edition when she pulled clear in the final straight, but was pipped on the line by 16-1 shot Waldgeist.
The five-year-old winner delivered French trainer Fabre his first success in the five-million-euro ($5.49 million) showpiece since Rail Link in 2006.
“I’m very proud that Waldgeist managed to beat such a fantastic mare and it’s well deserved in some ways, so I’m delighted,” Fabre told ITV.
“(I thought he would win) when he passed Enable. The Arc is always a big race because you have a combination of the best mares, best colts. It’s a great race.”
It was a first win in the race for French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot.
Sottsass finished third for 27-year-old rider Cristian Demuro and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget at 8-1.
It was only the second defeat from 15 races for Enable, but Gosden would not say whether the five-year-old mare would run again, insisting the decision would be made by owner Khalid bin Abdullah.
Enable, who went off at 8/13, was guided into a strong position by Dettori and sent for home, but could not hold off Waldgeist on soft ground at the end of the mile-and-a-half distance.
“She ran an absolutely brilliant race. Waldgeist came late and strong after they went a good pace,” said the 68-year-old Gosden, who was bidding for a fourth victory in five years.
“Frankie committed and went for it and with the ground testing her, it’s hard to show that turn of foot and Waldgeist has outstayed her on the ground. Full credit to Andre (Fabre).
“I’m happy with the race but she doesn’t have the same explosive turn of foot on soft, she quickened up well but was outstayed in very testing conditions.”
Second-favourite Japan also briefly moved into contention under Ryan Moore, but ultimately finished fourth in the 12-strong field for Aidan O’Brien.
Elsewhere, two-year-old filly Alms maintained her unbeaten record as she produced a withering late run to win the G3 Matron Stakes over six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park on Saturday.
The Michael Stidham-trained daughter of City Zip, successful over the same course and distance on her debut in September, was held up in fifth of the six runners by Jose Lezcano.
She still had four rivals in front of her at the top of the straight but ran on strongly to head Time Limit inside the final half-furlong before quickening away to score by a length and a quarter in 1m 9.30s on firm ground.
