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Super Star!

Editor's comments: I have had the great pleasure to see some great flat racehorses in my lifetime, including; Nijinsky, Dancing Brave, Triptych, Shergar, Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef, Montjeu, and last year Zarkava, but I defy anyone to tell me they are better than Sea The Stars.

The way he handled himself in today's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe was a clear example of equine greatness. Having to follow a suicidal pace set by the two Ballydoyle pace makers, boxed in at times, pulling for his head at times, he still had the ability to find the necessary gaps, and more importantly, to accelaarate through them as the race entered its final stages, and then he had the stamina to keep two lengths between himself and the luckless Youmzain, who had to settle for his third runners up spot in a row. He also had Cavalryman, Conduit, and Dar re mi - Group 1 winners all - having to settle for minor honours in today's race.

Sea The Stars had been applauded into the paddock before the race, but that was as nothing to the reception he received after today's victory, a reception which was so charged with emotion, it had grown men, including the usually unmoveable jockey Michael Kinane, shedding the occasional tear.

I started this piece with the headline - Super Star - and that is exactly what Sea The Stars is in the world of horse racing, but he is a lot more, for his exploits will be covered in every country in the world, and that makes him the greatest ambassador our sport has at the present time.

Let us hope his calm and talented trainer John Oxx can get Sea The Stars to Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup, for if he can cap his season with a win in the Breeders Cup Classic, he will, in my opinion, then deserve the title of 'The Greatest Racehorse of All Time'.

Alandi successful for Oxx Kinane and The Aga Khan.

The three men who had dominated proceedings at Longchamp on Sunday combined to land the last Group 1 on today's card. In the Prix du Cadaran Michael Kinane drove the John Oxx trained Alandi to the front, and despite being challenged by Francois Doumen's Kasbah Bliss over the final furlong, the progressive stayer ran on strongly to give owner The Aga Khan his fourth success of the day, and his seventh victory over the two day meeting.

Much to the relief of trainer Aidan O'Brien, four time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, who was having his last ever run on a race track, came in a creditable third, and all three horses received a round of applause on their return to the unsaddling area.

Shalinaya adss Prix de L'Opera to Aga Khan roll of honour.

In what can only be described as an unbelievable two days for owner His Highness The Aga Khan, the unfancied Shalinaya put in a sweeping late run down the outside of her rivals to give her owner a sixth Pattern Race victory when landing today's Group 1 Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp.

Henry Cecil's Nassau Stakes winner Midday had taken it up a furlong and a half from home , but even under a drive from Tom Queally, she could not find enough to hold off the late challenge of Shalinaya, and in fact, on the line Midday surrendered second position to Board Meeting.

The unlucky filly in the race was probably Godolphin's Lady Marian, for when she tried to deliver her challenge, Frankie Dettori found himself totally boxed in, and she was only capable of making eye catching late progress.

Siyouni keeps Aga Khan bandwagon rolling.

While British raiders Buzzword and Dick Turpin found problems in getting off the rail in today's Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere, Gerald Mosse brought Siyouni with a clear run down the outside of the field to deny John Gosden's Pounced a front running victory. In so doing, the Pivotel colt reversed recent form with the luckless Buzzword, the latter today having to settle for third place under Ahmed Ajtebi.

Siyouni gave the Aga Khan his fifth win at this year's 'Arc' meeting, and with other fancied runners later this afternoon, the royal owner could increase his tally even further.

Ddespite not getting any luck in running, the Richard Hannon yard will have learnt Dick Turpin does not like good to firm ground, for when he eventually got a clear run in the closing stages, the formerly unbeaten colt failed to pick up on the fast ground and had to settle for fifth position.

Rosanara provides returning Soumillon with another winner.

As we advised you in yesterday's news section, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre recommended Rosanara as his banker for the two day Longchamp Arc Festival, and in this afternoon's Prix Marcell Boussac she duly obliged.

Sent off as favourite, punters had their hearts in their mouths as Rosanara nearly lost her chance at the start, stumbling as she left the stalls, but the ebullient Christophe Soumillon soon had her back on terms as the first section of the race was run at a very steady pace.

As soon as the field entered the straight, Soumillon eased Rosanara nearer to the front, eventually taking it up with a furlong to go. As a daughter of Sinndar out of a Linnimix mare, Rosanara has stamina to burn, and she kept galloping, holding off the late challenges of On Verra and Joanna.

Rosanara has now duplicated the two year old career of super filly Zarkava, and if the Aga Khan has another filly of Zarkava's quality at his disposal, then he will be hoping for another Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe victory from Rosanara in 2010.

Total Gallery gives Murtagh perfect start in Abbaye.

Johnnie Murtagh may think Fame and Glory has the beating of Sea The Stars in today's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, but he could not have wished for a better confidence booster as the Stan Moore trained Total Gallery ran on gamely to give him victory in Longchamp's first race of the day, the Prix de L'Abbaye.

Always up with the pace, Murtagh asked the three year old to take it up at the furlong pole, and he showed he has stamina to burn as he held off the late challenges of race favourite Fleeting Spirit and Jeremy Noseda's War Artist.

Old campaigner and former winner of the race Benbaun had to settle for fourth, while the unlucky horse in the race was Nunthorpe Stakes winner Borderlescot, the latter being blocked by the eventual winner as he went for a gap in the closing stages.

Total Gallery gave Stan Moore his first ever win at Longchamp, and in a post race interview he revealed,

"That will probably be his last race this season. I think he will make up into a major sprinter next year, and we will immediately set about making a plan for him for 2010."

Go Native lands the odds at Tipperary.

Given a good lead by Carthalawn in today's Grade 2 Friends of Tipperary Hurdle, Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Go Native quickened after the second last, and went on to score by three and a half lengths on his seasonal re-appearance.

Speaking after the facile win, trainer Noel Meade said,

"He is very good when fresh, and he will now have a break before probably coming back for the hurdle race for second year novices at Down Royal."

Summer Bird joins illustrious company.

When Summer Bird won yesterday's Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, he became the first three year old since 1989 to win the Belmont Park Grade 1 triple crown of the Belmont Stakes, The travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He also became only the ninth horse to achieve the Belmont Park triple crown, and six of the other eight are Hall of Fame horses, such as Man O'War.

If Summer Bird races on as a four year old, and continues to enjoy Grade 1 success, he could eventually become one of the most valuable horses in training, with a huge stud value on his eventual retirement from racing.

Mcnamara to return next Sunday.

Andrew Mcnamara suffered concussion after being brought down aboard Negus at the third last of the Christmas Party Hurdle at Gowran Park yesterday. After consultation with the Turf Club doctor, he has been stood down for a week, and now hopes to return to action at next Sunday's Ladbrokes Munster National meeting at Limerick.

Oxx happy with the Longchamp track.

John Oxx has confirmed the track for today's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe is ideal for Sea The Stars, and the handler admits there can be no excuses over the state of the ground if his five time Group 1 winner cannot add another Group1 success to his remarkable record in this afternoon's contest.

It has to be said, John Oxx is taking the pressure of this afternoon's mile and a half test remarkably well, particularly as the stakes are astronomical. Sea The Stars is already priceless as a potential sire, but a win in the 'Arc' will put him amongst the greatest horses of all time, and therefore make him one of the hottest breeding properties in the racing world - So John Oxx must be under immense pressure to get it 'right' this afternoon, but speaking to the man in the last twenty four hours, you would think he was preparing a juvenile for a maiden race at a country track, rather than preparing Sea The Stars to win probably the most important race of his training career.

Soumillon still on course for remarkable come-back Victory.

Having returned in record time from the fractured elbow which has kept him off the track since his fall at Nancy on 09 September, Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon has reported no ill effects from his rides at Longchamp on Saturday.

The jockey has made a rapid and remarkable recovery, including riding Tamazirt to success in yesterday's Prix Daniel Wildenstein, and he reports he is really looking forward to riding Stacelita in today's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe - a ride he has obtained due to the broken collar bone suffered by fellow jockey Christophe Lemaire.

One is bound to ask if this could be one of these 'fate' situations, and Soumillon will make a remarkable come-back culminating in an unexpected victory in this afternoon's Longchamp centre-piece - No, it couldn't happen, could it?

Head adamant Breeders Cup still on Goldikova agenda.

According to trainer Freddie Head, despite her unexpected defeat in yesterday's Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, Goldikova is still on track to retain her Breeders Cup Mile title at Santa Anita in November. Speaking after the race, Head commented,

"She was badly drawn today, and as it was a seven furlong race, Olivier Peslier had to use her too much in the first three furlongs, and when it came to the last furlong she did not have enough left to hold off her rivals. Back over a mile at Santa Anita, she can run at a more even pace, and if we do that, I expect her to win."

Morris satisfied with War on seasonal debut.

Trainer Mouse Morris expressed himself satisfied with his 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition's second place behind The Fonze in yesterday's Grade 2 Gowran Park Champion Chase,

"He is not getting any younger, and two and a half miles on quick going is probably not his best option. He blew a bit after the race, and he will certainly come on for the outing. I don't know where or when he will run next as we are currently taking it a day at a time, but I was satisfied enough to say he will run again this season."

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