Waldgeist Outruns Enable in Final Yards of Arc

They cheered Enable leaving the parade ring, they cheered her leaving the stalls, they cheered her hitting the front to open her lead by three lengths in the stretch, and they even cheered her back to her stable. But when it mattered most, there were no cheers.

Instead, there was just a numbing silence as Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park's Waldgeist flashed past the winning post before Europe's darling to deny her a never-before-achieved third win in the Oct. 6 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). 

Paddy Power shortened Waldgeist into 5-1 (from 10) for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) after his success. The Arc is a "Win and You're In" Challenge Series race.

Fans arrived at ParisLongchamp in droves to witness Enable's quest for history, but the winner of her past 12 races, including 10 at group 1 level and two Arcs, uncharacteristically wilted in the final 100 yards over the course deemed "very soft" to suffer the same fate as Treve, the only other dual Arc winner who tried for the hat trick but ultimately failed in 2015.

On that occasion, Frankie Dettori pooped the party aboard Golden Horn, but the tables were dramatically turned four years on. The Italian was left to suffer as Waldgeist showed a remarkable turn of foot under Pierre-Charles Boudot to leave Enable in his wake.

"I struggled in the first bit of the race and let her find her feet," said Dettori, dejected but in control of his emotions. "She came good for me in the false straight and I waited for the 300 (furlong and a half out), but I didn't find as much as I thought I'd left and I just folded a little bit. The winner was too good for me today."

The hallmark of Enable's remarkable career has been the way she sustains her winning burst, but this time her kick appeared to peter out much earlier than normal, bringing back memories of last year's desperate finish when she just held on from Sea of Class after a troubled preparation. On this occasion, she could not hold on. 

"I passed the 200, and I was a spent force," Dettori said. "I think the ground had a lot to do with it."

While Enable's rider considered what might have been, her trainer, John Gosden, exited the scene sharply, although not before congratulating the winning connections. He later concurred the rain-soaked ground was a significant factor.  

"She's run a blinder, and I'm thrilled with her performance," Gosden said. "We lost our most potent weapon—the turn of foot in the latter stage of the race—but I'm very proud of her.

"She ran an absolutely brilliant race," he said. "Waldgeist came late and strong after they went a good pace. Frankie committed and went for it, and with the ground testing her, it was hard to show that turn of foot and Waldgeist has outstayed her on the ground. Full credit to André (Fabre)."

Rather than Enable, the history maker turned out to be winning trainer Fabre, scoring a record eighth Arc win with a horse meeting Enable for the fourth time and defeating her for the first time. 

Fabre first won Europe's richest race 32 years ago with Trempolino in 1987, and since then Subotica (1992), Carnegie (1994), Peintre Celebre (1997), Sagamix (1998), Hurricane Run (2005), and Rail Link (2006) have all crossed the line first for a trainer widely regarded as one of the greatest of his generation.

"I have so much admiration and respect for Enable that I'm proud Waldgeist could beat her," said the 73-year-old, securing his 30th trainers' title in France in victory.   

Beaten 13 1/4 lengths by Enable in America, Waldgeist finished just 1 3/4 lengths behind her at ParisLongchamp 12 months ago.

However, it was at Ascot in July, when Waldgeist finished strongly to close to within two lengths of his old rival, that Fabre and rider Pierre-Charles Boudot first thought an upset possible.

"He pleased me very much at Ascot, and he's stronger and more mature," Fabre said. "I really thought he was eating the ground at Ascot and had an easy race, so it gave me some confidence. After Ascot, Pierre-Charles said, 'We're going to win the Arc' and was very confident as well. It's up to the handicapper to rate how good he is, but it's very satisfying to win one of the biggest races in the world."

Fabre said the winner's future will be discussed with the owners and that immediate retirement is not out of the question.

The same applies to Enable, who may have failed in her bid for history but earned her place among the all-time greats some time ago.

"We'll get her back, see how she is, and then contemplate on what has been a very special filly," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Enable's owner, Khalid Abdullah. "I think Prince Khalid will want to take his time about what happens to her, but there's no decision at the moment.

"The wave of goodwill and good wishes was unbelievable, so it's not quite what we hoped, but how can we complain? She's been an unbelievable filly, and we love her to death."