Longshot Solemia inflicts heartbreak on Orfevre in Arc

"I am lucky to train for such great people as the Wertheimers, who have

trusted me for many years. I have to say, I was going into the race hoping for a

place only, but we were very happy that the rain arrived for her, and Olivier

made the difference today. He was the star and the day belongs to him -- he gave

her an amazing ride and deserves great credit."

Solemia needed three attempts to register a black-type success, and it came

in the listed Prix Joubert over this trip at Saint-Cloud in September before she

was second to Vadamar in the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris over this course

and distance the following month. Returning to score by four lengths in the

listed Prix Lord Seymour again over this track and trip April 19, she was third,

before being promoted to second, when meeting significant trouble in running

behind Allied Powers on a third visit in the May 8 Group 3 Prix d'Hedouville.

By the time she tackled Saint-Cloud's Group 2 Prix Corrida, she was beginning

to emerge as a genuine contender for the leading distaff events, and she was

able to nose out Shareta in a head-bobbing finish to that May 28 1 5/16-mile

contest. The third on that occasion, Siyouma, managed to win the Group 1 Sun

Chariot recently, so there was a genuine argument that her starting price here

was artificially inflated.

Her two most recent efforts, when fourth under a penalty in Deauville's Group

2 Prix de Pomone August 11 and third in the Prix Vermeille, were enough for the

astute Wertheimer brothers to let her take her chance against some of the

world's heavyweight performers, and her prospects rose with each drop of the

persistent autumnal rain.

Soon toward the fore before the babble of pacemakers took up their roles with

varying relish, she traveled strongly for Peslier against the fence while those

in behind scrambled for racing room. As the rabbits ran out of steam on the

final turn, she was left in clear daylight with Masterstroke alongside at the

head of affairs, and was still full of run as Soumillon glided on the wide

outside on Orfevre.

At the furlong marker, the Arc looked a Far Eastern benefit, but whereas the

Japanese challenger hung right, Solemia stayed straight and true, and it was her

sheer grit which saw her through in the end. The victory of Solemia is a third

in the famed blue-and-white silks, with fellow four-year-old fillies Ivanjica

and Gold River scoring in 1976 and 1981 for Jacques Wertheimer.

"We were not hoping for that much, but she's such a nice strong filly and she

was amazing," the owner-breeders' Racing Manager Pierre-Yves Bureaux commented.

"I was very happy in midstretch, as I thought she would be second, but Olivier

gave her a wonderful ride. Carlos has done a very good job with her, and we were

very happy with the rain that had come in the last few days.

"I am very happy for the Wertheimers, and this is a deserved victory for

them. We bred Poliglote (Solemia's sire) as well, so she is a full Wertheimer

filly."

Orfevre's trainer Yasutoshi Ikee had mixed emotions after Orfevre had become

the third Japanese challenger to be second in this race. There were shades of El

Condor Pasa in 1999, who was also worn down late by Montjeu having looked to

have stolen a march on the field.

"I am proud of my horse, because he has beaten the French and English Derby

winners (Saonois and Camelot respectively) and a top filly like Shareta and all

the best, but I have to say I am really disappointed he didn't win," Ikee said.

"I don't know why, but that's the way it is.

"We thought it was better to come down the outside, as after the last two

races the inside was becoming worn. We will take him back home now and see how

he is before discussing his options, but he could run in the Japan Cup (Grade 1

on November 25) and Arima Kinen (Grade 1 on December 23)."

Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford was very pleased with Masterstroke,

who was seven lengths behind in third.

"We are absolutely delighted with that run, and he was the first

three-year-old to finish," Crisford said. "Mickael (Barzalona) gave him a great

ride and we have no complaints. He will go to Dubai now and afterwards join us

in England for next year."

Camelot, who started at 19-5, appeared to have no excuses and could only stay

on at one pace to be seventh. The Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Epsom

Derby hero reportedly lost a shoe during the race,

Trainer Aidan O'Brien later announced that Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and

Michael Tabor's colorbearer will return next season.

"He's done an awful lot for a three-year-old, and he'll be something to look

forward to next year," the Ballydoyle conditioner told the Racing Post.

"The lads are very sporting and they want their horses to compete. Hopefully, if

he has a good winter, he'll be unbelievable next year.

"I've no doubt he's the best I've trained and everyone will see it next year.

I always thought a mile and a quarter was his perfect distance, but that he

would get a mile and a half. Next year he could go a mile, a mile and a quarter

and probably a mile and a half. He's a great traveler, he's determined and he

quickens.

"Camelot has had a long, hard season, and it was very bad ground. It was

sporting of the lads to have a go. Joseph (O'Brien) always said he wants better

ground. I didn't think so before the race, but the (Group 1 St) Leger obviously

left its mark. Today he just flattened out."

O'Brien also stated that St Nicholas Abbey, who could fare no better than

11th, will "very possibly" remain in training.

"He'll hopefully go to the Breeders' Cup," he added. "We've experimented a

lot with him."

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