Khalid Abdullah claimed his fourth Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory yesterday when Workforce upset race favorite Behkabad to win Europe's richest horse race.
Following previous victories with Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986) and Rail Link (2007), the Saudi Arabian prince saw the three-year-old colt, ridden by Ryan Moore, the English jockey, hold off a strong challenge from Nakayama Festa on the home stretch to win the Qatar-sponsored Arc by a head and succeed last year's winner, Sea The Stars.
Godolphin's Cavalryman found no extra momentum in the final furlong and finished back down in eighth while the fancied Youmzain, owned by Jaber Abdullah, finished a disappointing tenth. There was better news for Godolphin on Saturday night in America when they celebrated Grade 1 triumphs at Hollywood Park and Belmont Park. Hibaayeb set the ball rolling in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Hollywood, while Girolamo claimed a first success at the highest level in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont.
The former teed up a potential raid at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by taking the Yellow Ribbon by a length. Claire Sparkes, assistant to Saeed bin Suroor, Godolphin's trainer, said: "She had a great position throughout, and she just keeps staying on, which she did. She just loves that ground."
* Agency
