Alpinista gave Sir Mark Prescott and jockey Luke Morris the biggest success of their respective careers, landing the Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
Owned by Kirsten Rausing, who also owned stallion Alado and raced horses previously in the Cape with Vaughan Marshall, the grey mare travelled sweetly in the heavy ground and was always well placed as Japanese hope Titleholder set a good pace.
Alpinista stays on to thwart the late thrust of Eclipse winner Vadeni and last year’s winner Torquator Tasso (Pic – Racing TV)
The five-year-old, the first mare of her age to win since 1937, was last off the bridle as Morris sat chilly and, giving the mare her head approaching the final furlong, Alpinista stayed on stoutly to fend off the late thrust of Eclipse winner Vadeni and last year’s winner Torquator Tasso, who flew late from a wide draw under Frankie Dettori.
Prescott said: “It’s absolutely marvellous but the last 100 yards absolutely killed me. Such a relief she held on.
“Luke has ridden for us for 11 years and Miss Rausing has had horses with us for 36, so I’m very lucky. I trained her grandmother so it’s hard to think of a better day.
“This is a wonderful change to have one who can really go and she’s just been perfect.
“I was wondering whether she could improve again and she did.
Luke Morris is all smiles! (Pic – Racing TV)
“The race went like a dream. If it hadn’t been my horse, I would have thought it was going to win every inch of the way, but when it’s your own of course it’s a nightmare!
“I didn’t think all that rain would help, but she’s never travelled better and has come on with each race.
“Can she go on again? I don’t know what Ms Rausing will do. There’s the Japan Cup and the Breeders’ Cup to consider, so we’ll see.”
Morris said: “I had a beautiful draw in stall six and after being perfectly placed, there was a second when I thought we were getting drawn into it too early.
“But once she had taken charge, I was able to sit on her from 100 metres out.
“All credit to the staff at home I’m just the guy that sits on the horses a few times each year.
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“I was concerned when all that rain came but the race went very smoothly – I couldn’t believe how it could have in a 20-runner Arc. It was incredible.”
Rausing added: “She will come back to our stud next year. As for the Breeders’ Cup or the Japan Cup, we want to go home and talk about it.”
Georges Rimaud, racing manager to Vadeni’s owner, the Aga Khan, said: “We were very pleased with his run and we were obviously beaten by a very good opponent.
“Christophe (Soumillon) had a good run through the whole race and thought he was going to win, but the mare found more.
“He’s proved he stays the trip in soft ground, so we will go away and discuss what will happen in the next few days.”
