Limato Blitzes Foret on Arc Undercard

Five group I race supported the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) Oct. 2 at Chantilly, and Paul Jacobs' Limato gave a standout performance in the day's final race, the Prix de la Foret, to stamp himself possible for the Breeders' Cup.

A two-length winner of the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) and then second to Mecca's Angel in the Nunthorpe (Eng-I) Aug. 19 at York last time out, Limato stalked pacesetter Karar before willingly responding to Harry Bentley and unleashing an electric burst inside the final quarter-mile. 

The Henry Candy-trained 4-5 favorite drew clear in the final furlong and won comfortably by three lengths, with 25-1 longshot Karar staying on for second in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) test. Limato finished the trip in 1:21.83 for his eighth win from 13 starts. 

Candy indicated the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) or Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) next month at Santa Anita Park could be next for the 4-year-old Tagula gelding.

"(The Breeders' Cup) is a definite possibility," Candy told England's Press Association. "We'll have to discuss it, but I'd rather run him in the Mile than the Sprint."

Jacobs, however, was not so sure about the Mile for his runner.

 

"The Mile is a lot more valuable, but it's a lot more competitive," he said of the $2 million race, which could feature reigning U.S champion turf female Tepin in a repeat bid.

Also on Sunday's Arc card:

—Meon Valley Stud homebred Speedy Boarding, based in Newmarket with James Fanshawe, posted her second straight French group I victory in the Prix de l'Opera Longines. The daughter of Shamardal, last out winner of the Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-I) at Deauville, stayed close to pacesetter Pleascach, making her first start in a year, before edging that rival by a head bob in a tight finish. Previously unbeaten favorite So Mi Dar, who was pocketed 400 meters out, found running room in the stretch and was all out to finish third, three-quarters of a length back.

—Elite Racing Club's Marsha gained her first group score when coming from off the pace to best of two-time Nunthorpe (Eng-I) winner Mecca's Angel and King's Stand (Eng-I) victor Profitable in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. The 3-year-old Acclamation filly was a last-out second at Chantilly to l'Abbaye entrant Just Glamorous, who tried to go all the way in front Sunday before Mecca's Angel and Profitable blew past in the final furlong .Marsha arrived late to lead in the final 75 yards and repelled runner-up Washington DC, near the back early, by three-quarters of a length. Mecca's Angel held for third, and Profitable faded to seventh. 

—Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, who won the Arc twice with Treve, enjoyed victory in the Qatar Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) with National Defense, a son of Invincible Spirit who made all the pace under Pierre-Charles Boudot and scored by 4 1/2 lengths from Salouen. Kentucky-bred Whitecliffsofdover (War Front   out of a full sister to Pulpit) was a neck back third as the 8-5 favorite.

—Godolphin Racing's Wuheida went from maiden winner to group I winner in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Criterium des Pouliches) for 2-year-old fillies. She joined pacesetter Dabyah with three furlongs to run before leading in the last 125 yards and had energy to spare when runner-up Promise To Be came calling, winning by quarter-length. Wuheida, a homebred ridden by William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby, is the first juvenile group I winner for sire Dubawi. Her dam is 2010 Yellow Ribbon (gr. IT) winner Hibaayeb (Singspiel).