Hurricane Run triumphs in Arc

Six years since the devastating stretch run which secured Prix de l'Arc de

Triomphe (Fr-G1) glory for Michael Tabor's Montjeu (Ire), there was a distinct

sense of deja vu at Longchamp Sunday as one of the best of his sensational first

crop, HURRICANE RUN, reached the same pinnacle. Like his brilliant sire, he had

rested over the summer months after capturing the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and

prepped in the tried-and-tested Prix Niel (Fr-G2) here on September 11. He was a

work in progress on those outings, but the masterpiece was complete after the

5-2 favorite had swept from a compromising position under Kieren Fallon

to run down Westerner (GB) (Danehill) in the last 100 yards and win by two

lengths.

"Like father like son," his owner said. "He's come from an impossible

position and has a turn of foot second to none."

Shuffled towards the back of the field by the early scrimmaging customary in

this race, Hurricane Run had most of his rivals in front on the "false

straight'" and was asked to close through the pack on the home turn. Switched off

the rail briefly inside the final quarter, he was swung back to the inside when

the coast was clear and surged to the front before extending his advantage with

each stride.

"I got shuffled at the start and didn't really want to be back that far, but

there was plenty of pace, so I wasn't worried," commented Fallon, who was

completing a trio of Group 1's on the afternoon. "I took the shortest way

around and it got very rough turning for home, but I was lucky enough to have a

horse to get me out of trouble. He traveled so well and I don't think I have

ever ridden a horse with that turn of foot." 

Trainer Andre Fabre was collecting his sixth renewal of the Arc, but refused

to compare his latest hero.

"They are not cars," he said. "Every horse is different, but is as special as

only an Arc winner can be."

The next stop could be Belmont Park for the October 29 Breeders' Cup Turf

(G1) for Hurricane Run, who will remain in training next year.

Ecurie Wildenstein's champion stayer Westerner excelled dropping back and

beat off all his opponents besides the winner in the straight, justifying the

decision of owner Alec Wildenstein to divert the six-year-old from his usual gig

in the Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1).

"He's a wonderful horse and has run a big race," he commented. "He is so game

and gives everything. He knows every trick in the book and maybe we'll now go to

Hong Kong for the Vase (HK-G1) (at Sha Tin on December 11), if we are happy with

him afterwards."

The Niarchos Family's Bago was not far off repeating last year's winning

exploits, producing a late rush from rear on the outside to finish third.

Connections confirmed that the four-year-old will contest the Breeders' Cup Turf

and Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) in Tokyo on November before being retired.

The Royal Ascot Racing Club's Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner Motivator (Montjeu

[Ire]) traveled strongly behind the leaders and looked the likely winner when

left in front soon into the straight, but could not match the winner's finish

and faded into fifth.

"He did very well, but this game is all about winning," trainer Michael Bell

said. "It was slightly unfortunate that the gap opened a little bit sooner than

we would have wanted in an ideal world, being in front with 300 meters to go on

this ground and into a headwind. If it had opened up later, Johnny (Murtagh)

could have used that finishing burst to more effect, but I have to say the

winner would probably have beaten us anyway."