“She hated the ground, I knew it at the 400 [metres]” – jockey Frankie Dettori about Enable
The French horse Sottsass (Siyouni) won the 99th edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) on Sunday, the thoroughbred world championship. He is ahead of four other horses trained in France: In Swoop (Adlerflug), Persian King (Kingman), Gold Trip (Outstrip) and Raabihah (Sea The Stars).
The favorite Enable (Nathaniel), who was trying to win the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the third time – still an unprecedented feat – was only able to finish sixth, without seeming very comfortable during the course.
“She hated the ground, I knew it at the 400,” said Enable’s rider Frankie Dettori.
No decision has been made yet if Enable has run her last race. Trainer John Gosden was reported as saying the mare and stablemate Stradivarius, who finished right behind Enable, did not handle the soft turf and were not hard used in the race.
Sottsass is 100% French since he is trained in Deauville by Jean-Claude Rouget, ridden by Cristian Demuro installed in Chantilly, from the stallion Siyouni who breeds in Normandy at the Aga Khan stud farm and that he has was also bred in Normandy by the Ecurie des Monceaux directed by Henri Bozo. Only its owner is foreign: it is the American Peter Brant (White Birch Farm), a great industrialist, art collector and Francophile.
To build his success, Sottsass stood close behind, behind the back of the leader Persian King. Entering the straight, he only had to attack Persian King for the victory – both horses leaning to the left under strain in the final three hundred meters.
In Swoop drew a superb straight line, finishing strongest on the rope but a little too late to catch up with Sottsass. It is placed second to a winner’s neckline. Persian King, who was discovering the distance of 2,400 meters, had long been under the illusion of victory, after leading the entire race. He finished third almost two lengths ahead of Gold Trip and Raabihah, who finished well.
Sottsass was bought as a yearling for € 340,000 at sales in Deauville. His brother by Dubawi has just been awarded € 2.5m at the Arqana sales in Deauville . Indeed, their dam Starlet’s Sister (Galileo), also produced Sistercharlie, multiple winner at the top level in the United States for Peter Brant after having notably finished second in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) in France.
Good winner at 2 years old at Clairefontaine, Sottsass, for his part, made a strong impression during his success by six lengths of the Prix de Suresnes (L) for his second outing of the season and had confirmed his quality in a flash of class in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), beating the race and track record on this occasion.
Winner for his comeback in autumn 2019 of the Prix Niel (Gr3) at ParisLongchamp, he had placed an acceleration that day which had shown that he could adapt to the 2,400-meter course, which he confirmed. by taking third place in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Fourth in the Prix d’Harcourt (Gr2) for his comeback this year, confirmed by winning the Prix Ganay (Gr1) in June at Chantilly. Second this summer at Deauville, returning 3 kilos to Skalleti – winner on Saturday of a second Qatar Prix Dollar (Gr2) at ParisLongchamp -, he then took fourth place in the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1).
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