Waldgeist Storms To Victory In The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe

Waldgeist (5c Galileo - Waldlerche, by Monsun) powered home to capture the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, providing Andre Fabre with his eighth success in the prestigious Group 1 contest.

All eyes were on Enable as Pierre-Charles Boudot rode the eventual winner towards the back of the field, making headway from over two furlongs out and was switched outside to challenge a furlong and a half from home. Racing home strongly, he set impressive sectional times as he strode home, denying Enable by a length and three quarters.

An elated Fabre commented after the race, “I'm very proud that Waldgeist managed to beat such a fantastic mare. I'm delighted. He gave me a lot of confidence at Ascot and Pierre-Charles said he could have won. The Arc is always a big race because you have the combination of the best mares and colts and it's a great race.”

Waldgeist is now a four-time winner at the highest level, his first coming as a two-year-old in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Future plans and possible retirement is yet to be confirmed by owners Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park.

Sunday increases the hopes and dreams of Waldgeist’s yearling full-sister, while their dam Waldlerche has also produced a Group 2 winner and highly-rated three-year-old both closely related to the Arc victor. Waldlerche herself won at Group 3 level and is closely related to Leger hero Masked Marvel.