Frankie Dettori captured his third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as Marienbard scored a surprise win at Longchamp. The ever-popular Italian sent his mount into the lead just inside the final furlong and the pair withheld the late thrust of Sulamani to take the first prize of over 900,000 euros by three-quarters of a length.
And the Paris crowd gave Dettori an enormous cheer as he returned to the winner's enclosure on the Godolphin horse. Marienbard reaped the benefits of a clear passage as Black Sam Bellamy cut out the early pace with Islington and favourite High Chaparral in behind. Turning for home, Michael Kinane asked High Chaparral to go on but the horse failed to find a telling turn of foot.
Sensing his opportunity in behind, Dettori switched Marienbard out to challenge for the lead. Meanwhile, French Derby hero Sulamani, who had raced well in rear throughout and had just four horses behind on the turn into the home straight, was trapped wide at a vital time and forced to make his challenge down the centre of the track.
Thierry Thuillez asked Sulamani for everything but with his mount's head hanging slightly to the right, he was just unable to reel in the winner. High Chaparral took third place a further half-length back with Califet running above himself in fourth. Sir Michael Stoute's Islington finished a close-up fifth.
Filed by Brendan Cole
