3 minute read
After his win in the Arc the jockey proclaimed "I can now die happy".
It was an amazing weekend for the young French jockey who rode a total of 6 winners 5 of which were at Group 1 or 2 level.
It is his win on the Andre Fabre trained Walgeist which will stand out in most memories. Waldgeist, a Galileo out of a Monsun mare, was running on well in the King George and then won the Prix Foy coming in to this, but it was his amazing finish that got him the race. His times of the last 600m were all under 13.0, the only horse to do this in all three sections. Enable and Sottsass ran the same split in the last 200, showing the effects of the going and the same can be said for Japan who had the best time for the first two sections.
The ground also put paid to any hopes for the Japanese runners, the best of whom was Kiseki who finished in 7th place and he was never further forward than that.
It was also a great result for trainer Andre Fabre who won his 8th Arc and 30th Trainers' Title.
Arc Day started off with a fabulous win for Jessica Harrington's Albigna who showed a great turn of foot as well as an ability to handle the going in winning the Boussac. Turns out that her previous disappointing run was due to her being in season. She should win some good races next year. Favourite Savarin was not given the best of rides by Yutaka Take.
The Jean-Luc Largardère was another win for Fabre with his Godolphin Shamardal colt Victor Ludorum coming through at the end to spoil the hopes of the J-P Carvalho trained Alson who ran a blinder. Ecrivain ran a great race and tried to get though along the rails but just got pipped by O'Brien's Armory for third money.
After the Arc the Prix de l'Opéra went to Carlos Laffon-Parias and Olivier Peslier with their 20/1 shot Villa Marina. The Prix de l'Abbaye showed the benefit of the prep Kevin Ryan gave Glass Slippers by running her – and winning – the Prix Petit Couver as they romped away with the sprint winning by 3 lengths from So Perfect and Battaash another victim of the soft ground.
Boudot's second G1 on the day came in the Prix de la Forêt when One Master got the better of City Light in a close finish.
On Saturday Boudot rode Skalleti to win the Dollar, The Revenant in the Wildenstein, and Technician in the Chaudenay as well as a winner in one of the minor races. The other winners were Anapurna for Gosden-Dettori in the Royallieu which gave Dettori his record 17th G1 for the year and Holdthasisgreen in the Cadran.
