There was a unique South African connection in the background as the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking charged to victory under Rossa Ryan to win the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at a rain-soaked Longchamp on Sunday.
The well-backed four-year-old was always prominent in the famous Juddmonte silks and powered to victory ahead of Aventure in what was a replay of the finish of the Prix Vermeille in September.
Eric Ngwane in his KZN riding days (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)
SA Jockey Academy graduate Eric Ngwane, who hails from Merewent, was coached by former champion jockey Garth Puller early in his career and was twice crowned champion apprentice in his time.
After calling time on race riding here Eric joined the Ralph Beckett yard at Kimpton, Hampshire three years ago. He rides all the work and looks after the Arc winner, a filly he hailed ‘the best in the world’ just a few months ago!
Not originally entered for the showpiece, Bluestocking was supplemented for €120 000 on Wednesday, and was one of only two British-trained runners.
She was sent off at 5/1, having been 11/1 on the morning of the race.
Racing TV reports that she enjoyed a trouble-free passage in the slipstream of front-running Los Angeles before holding off the advancing Aventure, who fared best of the home team.
In the process, Bluestocking was providing a record seventh Arc for the late Khalid Abdullah’s decorated racing operation.
“It’s a tribute to her constitution as much as anything,” said Beckett. “It’s extraordinary to have a horse to start in May and dance all those dances, the King George, the Juddmonte (International), and get beaten and come back and do that. After only three weeks and what looked like a tough race in the Vermeille, it’s extraordinary. She is an extraordinary beast.
“I think the draw helped, it was terrific. He got her into the right place and everything went to plan, he was able to pull it off.
“Westover hit the front with a furlong left last year and I was kind of waiting for something else to come and get her, what a day.
“This is our best ever day, it has to be. I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple of Oaks but this is our best day, for sure.
The thrilled Arc winning team (Pic – Racing TV FB)
A jubilant Ryan, 24, told Equidia soon after passing the line: “I know everyone overlooked her, but on form she had been at the top table and done it all. She just proved she’s something else.
“I can’t really believe it, this filly has been something else to my career. My family are here, they all came over and it’s very surreal.”
Bluestocking failed to get her head in front in six races last season but this campaign has been a different story.
She registered her second Group One success of the season in the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance on Trials Day last month, having also landed the Pretty Polly at The Curragh earlier in the campaign.
Her two defeats this term had come against the boys, when runner-up to Goliath in the King George, and when fourth to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International. She seemed to have no excuses on the first occasion, but possibly found dropping back to ten furlongs against her at York.
It had been 16 years since a Prix Vermeille winner (Zarkava) followed up in the Arc, but Sunday’s 1-2 meant that stat was broken in style. The winner also became the tenth filly/mare to win in the past 17 editions of the race.
Eric’s recent interview:
