Solemia denies Japan's Orfevre to win Arc

PARIS (AFP) –

France’s Olivier Peslier (left) riding Solemia crosses the finish line ahead of France’s Christophe Soumillon riding Japanese raider Orfevreatto to win the rix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 7 at Longchamps race track in Paris.

French outsider Solemia got up on the line to edge out Japanese raider Orfevre and win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp here on Sunday.

Orfevre, Japan’s 2011 horse of the year, looked certain to claim his country’s first victory in Europe’s most prestigious race when he swept through to hit the front under Christophe Soumillon.

But the 7-2 chance hung right towards the rails and was caught by the fast-finishing Solemia, an unconsidered 41-1 shot, ridden by Olivier Peslier and trained by Chantilly-based Carlos Laffon-Parias.

Masterstroke (14-1), trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, was third.

“It’s the Arc,” beamed Laffon-Parias. I thought we were beaten in the straight, then I saw Orfevre stopping.”

“It’s fantastic, for the yard, for everyone,” said Peslier, claiming his fourth Arc after Helissio, Peintre Celebre and Sagamix.

A distraught Soumillon said: “He (Orfevre) did everything, but he stopped in the final 150 metres. It’s such a shame, he has so much potential.”

Soumillon later told French racing channel Equidia that Orfevre was “the best horse I’ve ever ridden”.

He added: “No one could have imagined he was going to get beaten. He’s got everything to win the Arc, now I hope he goes for the Champion Stakes (at Ascot on October 20) to take on Frankel!”