RACING: It was billed as the clash of the Derby winners but Marienbard, the oldest horse in the race, trumped the lot of them in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Frankie Dettori had won the Arc twice before on the outstanding pair of Sakhee and Lammtarra but racing's greatest showman gave the exhibition of a lifetime in Paris yesterday.
The flamboyant Italian saved every yard possible on the inside before eventually scything past High Chaparral inside the final furlong.
It was a vintage display that made the contrast with Thierry Thulliez on the French Derby winner Sulamani even more apparent.
Over the weekend, the young French rider had been like Pollyfilla, filling any gap possible in order to save ground. But in the big one, Thulliez appeared determined to give the outside to nobody.
Despite being third last at half way, Sulamani's challenge down the centre of the track was a mesmerising effort only for the line to come just in time for Dettori.
Marienbard's Arc claims had been dismissed by many who pointed to last year's failure in the Melbourne Cup as hardly the classical Arc profile.
But the Godolphin team have transformed an older horse once again and in the process confirmed the international nature of their operation.
"We're an international stable and it's great to win these races," said spokesman Simon Crisford. "It was our fault, trying to make him a long distance horse last year and Sheikh Mohammed told us to stop messing about and get him back!"
Marienbard is the first five year- old to win Europe's premier all-aged race since Tony Bin won in 1988 and provided another rattle to the value of the three-year old classic form.
High Chaparral hadn't seen a racecourse in almost 100 days but Hold That Tiger's comeback victory in the Grand Criterium 45 minutes earlier seemed to inject confidence into the Aidan O'Brien camp.
The English and Irish Derby winner went off favourite and got an ideal pacemaker in his stable companion Black Sam Bellamy.
The writing was on the wall,however, before the straight as Mick Kinane got into the drive position and ultimately the Irish colt did well to stay on into third.
Afterwards, O'Brien didn't rule out a possible four-year-old campaign for High Chaparral who he described as being "a little rusty" following his long break.
The Irish camp had earlier hit the Group One spot, however, when Hold That Tiger pounced in remarkable style to win the Grand Criterium.
Rock Of Gibraltar won the race a lot easier last year but hardly as spectacularly. Kieren Fallon was last of 14 going into the final furlong but Hold That Tiger showed a flashing turn of foot to win snugly in the end.
It was enough for Coral to make the Storm Cat colt an 8 to 1 joint favourite with Trade Fair for next year's 2,000 Guineas.
Thulliez and trainer Pascal Bary had earlier unveiled their own classic hope for 2,003 as Six Perfections justified odds on in style in the Prix Marcel Boussac.
Six Perfections showed immediate acceleration to beat Etoile Montante and set up a possible tilt at next season's 1,000 Guineas.
Earlier, John Murtagh picked up his own Group One pot when Give Notice got up to win the Prix du Cadran and July Cup winner Continent doubled his top-level score for the year by emerging best in the Prix de l'Abbaye.
Frankie Dettori and the Godolphin- trained Marienbard (right) land The Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris yesterday. - (Photograph: Julian Herbert/Getty Images)
Longchamp - Sunday
GOING: GOOD TO SOFT
1.25 - (2m 4f £6,968) GIVE NOTICE J P Murtagh 9/2 Jt fav 1; Pushkin 15/2 2; Cut Quartz 12/1 3. 9/2 Jt fav Polish Summer . 16 ran. (J Dunlop). Amended Result. Following a stewards' inquiry, No.1 Polish Summer, who finished 3rd, was disqualified and placed last. Pari/Mutuel: Win 7.20; Places 3.30, 4.30, 3.80. Dual Forecast 86.10.
2.00 - (5f £6,968) CONTINENT D Holland 7/1 1; Slap Shot 25/1 2; Zipping 12/1 3. 11/2 fav Wunders Dream. 20 ran. (D Nicholls). Pari/Mutuel: Win 4.90; Places 3.60, 13.20, 3.70. Dual Forecast 771.10.
2.35 - (1m 2f £8,710) BRIGHT SKY D Boeuf 7/4 fav 1; Irresistible Jewel 6/1 2; Marotta 17/2 3. 12 ran. (E Lellouche). Non-runner: Rebelline. Pari/Mutuel: Win 1.90; Places 1.10, 2.80, 1.60, Dual Forecast 17.60.
3.10 - (1m £8,710) SIX PERFECTIONS T Thulliez 4/6 fav 1; Etoile Montante 6/1 2; Luminata 16/1 3. 10 ran. (P Bary). Pari/Mutuel Returns: Win 1.80; Places 1.30, 1.70, 2.50. Dual Forecast 4.60.
3.45 - (7f £1,219) HOLD THAT TIGER K Fallon 9/1 1; Le Vie Dei Colori 15/2 2; Intercontinental 3/1 fav 3. 14 ran. (A P O'Brien ). Pari/Mutuel: Win 4.50; Places 6.10, 1.70, 1.60, Dual Forecast 98.90.
4.30 - (1m 4f £5,574) MARIENBARD L Dettori 10/1 1; Sulamani 2/1 2; High Chaparral 7/4 fav 3. 16 ran. (S Bin Suroor). Tricast: £57.94. Pari/Mutuel: Win 16.80; Places 4.20, 2.10, 2.30. Dual Forecast 36.30.
