When I saw Olivier switch his whip, I knew we were going to go for it, said winning trainer Carlos Laffon Parias - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 09 Oct 2012
You are a polyglot if you are capable of speaking several languages. Proficiency is taken for granted. And it was a daughter of Poliglote (forgive the variation in spelling) who had the last laugh in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc Triomphe, Europe’s richest horserace, that was run at Longchamp racecourse on Sunday.
A huge throng of over 75,000 packed the stands for the nine-race card. The Arc was the sixth event. There had been continuous rain on Saturday. The rain-soaked course had turned to glue. The times for the Group I races, there were seven of them including the Arc, were inordinately slow.
In 2011, it was Danedream, a German filly, who had given a thrashing to her rivals. A quarantine in Cologne where Danedream was based, stopped her from making the trip to Paris. Camelot had attracted a great deal of attention when it was revealed that Frankie Dettori would partner the dual-Derby winning colt.
The enthusiasm, however, began to wane as the unrelenting rain was, in the opinion of experts, a handicap that Camelot would not overcome. Orfevre, the market leader, drifted to 9/2 in early Sunday wagering in England but at post time, in the French tote, Orfevre was a lukewarm 7/2 public choice.
Solemia and Camelot raced in the vanguard as Ernest Hemingway (not the one who wrote Old Man And The Sea), a 150/1 outsider. Colm O'Donoghue up, set a brisk pace. The field was strung out. As Ernest Hemingway began to shorten stide, Solemia found herself in front. Camelot was produced and the response was anything but satisfactory. Great Heavens made a surge with 400 metres to travel but could not sustain. Solemia, 40.50 to 1 chance in the French pari-mutuel system, was trying hard to cling to the lead. There were 300 metres left and one could spot a horse on the extreme outside making up ground in a hurry. It was more a question of horses tiring and retreating. It was Orevere, the Japanese star in the hands of Christophe Soumillon, who made swept past the field. Moving to the right as he raced to the wire, Orfevre seemed to pause for a split second. There was perhaps a two and one half length advantage with 100 metres to run.
Olivier Peslier, sensing an opportunity, did what cerebral riders do. He switched the whip hand and Solemia was able to find renewed energy. She ran on and in the final yards, managed to put her neck in front. It was a spine-chilling upset but it was Peslier, a legend in France on a France-based filly, who had done the magical act of pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
The time was a slow 2 37.68 seconds for the 2400-metre Arc. The going was officially called 'heavy.' The winning margin was a neck. Seven lengths away in third was Masterstroke, trained by Andre Fabre. Solemia paid 41.50 Euros on the one Euro win ticket.
I had spoken to Peslier at the post position ceremony on Friday. While not dismissing chances, he said that it was difficult to be optimistic about Solemia's chances. In the Prix Vermeilles won by Shareta, run three weeks before the Arc, Solemia had finished third. On all known form, it was not easy at all to make a case for Solemia.
In the post race press conference, I asked the Weirtheimer Brothers if Solemia can be considered special like Goldikoa was and if Solemia would have a race or two on the international stage. "Goldikoa was very special. She cannot be compared with anyone else. Yes, we may get Solemia to Los Angeles for the Breeders' Cup. We will think," was the answer. The billionaire brothers speak excellent English.
Olivier Peslier was winning his fourth Arc. He made a hat trick in 1996-98. He did not attend the press conference because he had a mount in the following race. He, however, made a statement to France-Galop. "I had a great trip. When Christophe (Soumillon) took the lead, I was hoping to be second or third. I did not give up though and Soumillon's horse pulled up a bit at the finish. I am over the moon."
Over the moon is an expression often used by trainer Aidan O'Brien. Peslier must have listened to Aidan speaking at press conferences.
Winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias was succinct. "I thought we were beaten. When I saw Olivier switch his whip, I knew we were going to go for it."
I had a chat with Dave Johnson, America's legendary commentator. Dave said, "It was jockeyship that won it. Peslier knows the course and he can take advantage when the opportunity presents itself"
Christophe Soumillon made a long statement. "It is sad because Orfevre has huge potential. Once I had the lead, could anyone have imagined, I'd be beaten? He was pulling a lot. In the last 50 metres, he had no challenge. When Olivier came at me, I could not get my horse to get going again. He's the best I have ridden. I hope he will run against Frankel in the Champion Stakes or may be, in the Japan Cup."
Frankie Dettori, whose days in the Dubai camp are coming to an end, had this to say about Camelot. "I had lovely position. In the straight, he had nothing left to give. The season has been too long for him."
Solemia, a four year-old filly, is by Poliglote out of Brooklyn's Dance by Shirley Heights. Poliglote is by Saddler's Wells out of Alexandrie by Val De L'Orne. Shirley Heights is an Epsom Derby winner for Greville Starkey. The sire of Shirley Heights is Mill Reef, also an Epsom Derby winner. Mill Reef's rider was Geoff Lewis who plied his trade in India, especially in Calcutta, over fifty years ago.
I am in Newmarket with Vicky and Silvestre de Sousa and Ryan, their five year-old son. Silvestre had a winner on Monday at Pontefract. It is Tuesday morning in England as I type this. Silvestre will ride at Leicester and then head to Wolverhampton for a twilight card. He has a driver. Travelling is a big part of a jockey's life in England.
