Ratings Update: Waldgeist posts top-class effort to beat Enable in Arc

A new record was set in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but it was not the one most racing fans had craved. Enable looked to hold outstanding claims of becoming the first horse to win the Arc on three occasions, but was overhauled late on by Waldgeist, who provided Andre Fabre with an eighth winner of the race, setting a new benchmark for most successes by one trainer.

Waldgeist (up 3lb to 132) had been beaten three times by Enable previously, including in last year’s Arc and in the King George in July, but he showed improved form to overhaul the history-seeking mare, benefiting from a well-judged ride in a race that provided a stern test of stamina.

Ghaiyyath set some stern mid-race fractions, for which he paid the price, as to a lesser extent did Magical, but the other principals all came to hold every chance from two furlongs out and there is very little to hold the form down. 

The frame was filled by French Derby hero Sottsass (up 1lb to 127) and Juddmonte International Stakes winner Japan (remains on 127), with the front four pulling well clear of Magical, so there can be little doubt that Waldgeist, despite being a five-year-old, produced a career-best performance to prevail by a length and three quarters.

Waldgeist’s rating of 132 places him middle of the pack compared to Fabre’s other Arc winners, not so good as Peintre Celebre (137), Trempolino (135) or Hurricane Run (134), but still deserving of being called a top-class racehorse.

Frankie Dettori didn’t look entirely happy on Enable in the early stages but she looked to be going at least as well as anything as they turned for home and hit an in-running low of 1.07 after briefly kicking clear a furlong out. She was overhauled by a stronger stayer late on, producing a creditable performance without being able to run up to her very best, which came in the 2017 Arc, or the level she ran to in July’s epic King George.

WALDGEIST spoils the party!

Andre Fabre's 5-year-old on strongly to deny Enable and win the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe!

📽️ @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/eTtJRiMLBT

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) October 6, 2019

Sunday’s result means the form of that King George, in which Enable got the better of Crystal Ocean with Waldgeist finishing well clear of the rest in a close-up third, should be revisited and reassessed. It was an exhilarating race to watch and, with the benefit of extra evidence to now call on, saw better performances than the principals were initially credited with. Enable, who received 3lb from the males, is now rated 131 (up from 129), while Crystal Ocean, who also got the better of Waldgeist in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, is up 2lb to 133.

It’s worth remembering that Enable achieved a rating of 134 in the 2017 Arc. The mark of 131 reflects this season’s achievements and the level of form she is deemed capable of producing should she be asked to race again.

Battaash remains Timeform’s highest-rated racehorse on a mark of 136, despite flopping badly in the Prix de l’Abbaye. He’s less bombproof than most top-class horses but has never run as badly as he did on Sunday – he was beaten nearly 18 lengths – and might just have been amiss. Battaash’s tame effort meant the race was weaker than it looked on paper, but the progressive Glass Slippers, who had been beaten at Group 3 level as recently as July, still produced an impressive performance to win by three lengths, improving her rating to 124 (from 112).

For context, Ten Sovereigns and Advertise, the top two leading three-year-old sprinters, are rated 126 and 125 respectively, which means, should they meet, the filly Glass Slippers would come out on top on weight-adjusted ratings after her sex allowance is factored in.

Advertise is the favourite for the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes but faces a serious challenger in One Master, who produced a career-best performance to fend off City Light and win back-to-back runnings of the Prix de la Foret. One Master (up to 121 from 119) is clearly very effective over that seven-furlong trip but shapes as if she has the speed to cope with a drop to a stiff six furlongs on ground which is likely to be testing.

She's done it again!

ONE MASTER wins back-to-back renewals of the (Group 1) Prix de la Foret at @paris_longchamp for William Haggas under man of the moment @PCBOUDOT!

📽️ @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/0fZaHxfPwV

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) October 6, 2019

The two juvenile Group 1s on the card were run in contrasting fashion but both produced impressive winners. Victor Ludorum showed a good turn of foot to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and improved his rating to 115p (from 105p), further strengthening Godolphin’s hand for next season’s classics. Trainer Andre Fabre, who also has Middle Park winner Earthlight in his stable, is eyeing a French classic campaign with Victor Ludorum.

Albigna had failed to meet expectations in a steadily-run Moyglare Stud Stakes last month but relished a much stiffer test of stamina in the Prix Marcel Boussac, staying on stoutly to win by two and a half lengths, boosting her rating to 111 (from 101) and marking herself down as a creditable 1000 Guineas contender.

The best performance at Longchamp on Saturday was produced by The Revenant, who is now rated 124+ (from 117+) after winning the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein by four and a half lengths. Investec Oaks winner Anapurna was also successful on the card, winning the Prix de Royallieu, which was run as a Group 1 for the first time. She improved on the level of form she had shown at Epsom, and recovered from a blip in the Prix Vermeille (there were admittedly excuses), to post a one-and-a-quarter-length success, earning a rating of 118 (from 115).

Morando posted the best performance in Britain this weekend, winning the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes by six lengths. It was a career-best effort from the six-year-old (now rated 123 from 118), who clearly relishes testing conditions and will be a force to be reckoned with if facing similar conditions again this season. The likeable Dakota Gold won on the same card, making it six wins for the season, giving weight and a beating to his Rous Stakes rivals to improve his rating by 1lb to 120. 

At Newmarket Billesdon Brook proved as good as ever to win the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes. The 2018 1000 Guineas winner, back at the scene of her greatest triumph, travelled smoothly and picked up well when required to beat Veracious by a length and a half, earning a rating of 117.