Arc Result: Timeform rate big race winner Danedream 132+

Longchamp Arc Meeting / Timeform / 03 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Danedream destroys her Arc field.

"Danedream became the second German-trained winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe..."

Timeform has provisionally rated Danedream 132+ following the three-year-old filly's impressive win in the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday....

She only cost €9,000 as a two-year-old but, having been supplemented at a cost of €100,000, the filly Danedream became the second German-trained winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Star Appeal in 1975 their only other victor) when routing a field of 16 that featured no fewer than 12 other Group 1 winners.

After racing in the first half of the chasing pack, the Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream displayed a startling turn of foot when sent in pursuit of the pace-setters by Andrasch Starke with a few furlongs to turn and came home a decisive five-length winner.

The provisional rating of 132+ for Danedream's Arc victory (her previous best was 125, achieved when winning a Group 1 at Baden-Baden on her most recent start) takes into account her sex and age allowance, and is slightly above average for a winner of Europe's richest race, won often by great horses but not always with their best performances.

Shareta, a filly who, to all intents and purposes, was a pacemaker for well-fancied stable companion Sarafina held on gamely for second, whilst the admirable Snow Fairy did the best of both the British contingent and those held up.

After being restrained in rear, Sarafina and So You Think ,both tried to make headway turning into the straight, but their efforts were in vain, neither shaping as though they were ever serious challengers, the latter doing the best in fourth.

Completing the Ballydoyle contingent was St Nicholas Abbey, who wasn't disgraced in mid-field, and Treasure Beach, who went off so quickly that it was inevitable he'd fail to last home.

Backers of Workforce would have known their fate from an early stage, Sir Michael Stoute's colt not enjoying as clear a trip as when winning last year and finishing well held.

Of the rest, Masked Marvel looked outpaced as the leaders began to quicken turning for home and, like fellow three-year-olds Meandre, Reliable Man and Galikova, never threatened. The Japanese pair Hiruno d'Amour and Nakayama Festa never looked like landing a blow, either.

Be sure to come back on Monday for a thorough Arc weekend review featuring Timeform ratings in Handicappers' Corner.