Rail Link powers to Arc victory

Khalid Abdullah's RAIL LINK (Dansili [GB]) brought a four-race win streak

into France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, but wasn't given

much notice by many due to his star-studded supporting cast. By the end, though,

the sophomore colt proved that it takes more than star power to win, as he

gutted out a neck victory to give trainer André

Fabre his seventh Arc score.

Once the gates opened, the field settled into stride with Irish Wells

(Poliglote [GB]) leading the way, closely followed by Rail Link and Japanese

Horse of the Year Deep Impact (Sunday Silence). Coming into the home stretch,

Irish Wells was still in front, but not for long as favored Deep Impact put in

his challenge under Yutaka Take. All the while, last year's defending Arc

winner, Hurricane Run (Montjeu [Ire]), was boxed in at the rail and couldn't get

clear sailing.

Japanese fans were cheering on their hero Deep Impact as the wire drew nearer, but the

race wasn't over yet. Jockey Stéphane

Pasquier asked Rail Link and the colt responded, taking the lead and digging in

late as the valiant mare Pride (Peintre Celebre) suddenly appeared after running

in last. It was a battle to the wire, with Rail Link holding Pride by a neck at

the line and Deep Impact just another half-length back in third. The final time

for the about 1 1/2 miles on the good turf was 2:31 3/5.

"André Fabre didn't give me any orders,"

Pasquier explained. "He told me to ride the horse as I found him and to try and

get the best possible trip. I took position just behind Deep Impact and did not

feel any pressure as I was riding an outsider. When I extracted my horse from

behind Deep Impact he burst into action.

"I only realized that I had won when we passed the post but I still haven't

grasped what this win really represents. I'll really appreciate it when I have

the time to relax."

Fabre also saddled Hurricane Run, who finished 2 1/2 lengths farther back in

fourth, and last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner, Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun),

who ran last in the eight-horse field. Best Name (King's Best) crossed under the

line in fifth, followed by Irish Wells, Sixties Icon (Galileo [Ire]) and

Shirocco.

"They went a sensible pace," Fabre told BBC after the race. "Obviously I was

disappointed to see Hurricane Run boxed in, but I think the others had a fair

race."

Rail Link lost his jockey in his career debut, the Prix Saint Simon, but he

quickly rebounded to take an allowance at Chantilly in mid-May. Breaking his

maiden in the Prix Gouvernant, the colt was immediately moved up into group

company, reeling off victories in the Prix du Lys (Fr-G3), Grand Prix de Paris

(Fr-G1) and, prior to the Arc, the Prix Niel (Fr-G2).

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Abdullah, was understandably excited with

Rail Link's winning effort on Sunday.

"We certainly thought he could do it, but it's easy to say that now," he

said. "When he won the Grand Prix de Paris he showed himself to be a very

high-class horse and he's just improved and improved. In the last couple of

weeks André has been really pleased with him

and to win an Arc like that is just unbelievable really.

"André is the greatest and everything

went right."

Grimthorpe added that Rail Link could get the rest of the year off, and said

that a tilt at the Breeders' Cup on November 4 "...is possible but very

unlikely."

Pride could show up in Hong Kong or Japan for her next start, according to

her owner, Sven Hanson, who said that his mare would be retired at the end of

the season.

Despite Deep Impact not taking the top prize, trainer Yasuo Ikee was still

pleased with his charge's performance.

"He's run his race and I thought he ran very well, but today there were two

better horses," Ikee said. "I'm very proud of my horse and full of admiration

for the two in front of him today. His condition was in top form and I thought

he was 100 percent today. I would like to come back and try again next year."

Jockey Christophe Soumillon, who piloted Shirocco, could offer no explanation

as

to his mount's lackluster performance.

"I can't explain the reason why he was less reactive than usual when

accelerating," he said. "At the entrance to the straight I already felt that he

would have trouble accelerating and in effect he soon weakened. He remains a

great horse and I hope he will show that before the end of the year."