Prix de l'Abbaye: Makarova beats Bradsell and Believing as Brits dominate sprint finish on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day
Makarova retired after landing Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp as Tom Marquand survives stewards' enquiry having drifted across the path of wife Hollie Doyle aboard Bradsell; Camille Pissarro given great ride by Christophe Soumillon to win Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Sunday 6 October 2024 16:59, UK
Makarova led a British domination of the Prix de l'Abbaye Longines on Arc day at ParisLongchamp.
Ridden by Tom Marquand and trained by Ed Walker, Makarova was settled in the chasing pack as favourite Bradsell and Desperate Hero traded blows at the front end of the five-furlong sprint.
It looked as though Bradsell might seal another Group One triumph entering the final furlong, but Makarova was making ground down the outside and swept through to win going away.
Bradsell just held on for second from the fast-finishing Believing, with Desperate Hero fourth and No Half Measures fifth, with all those runners hailing from British yards.
Camille Pissarro swooped late to grab glory in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the colt benefitted from a vintage Christophe Soumillon ride as he recorded a first Group One success in the seven-furlong contest.
Soumillon exercised plenty of patience in the early stages before allowing his mount to coast into contention in the straight.
Rashabar put up a tremendous bid for Brian Meehan, but Camille Pissarro - who was well down the field when Rashabar won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot - just edged the verdict in the shadow of the post, with the front-running Misunderstood clinging on for third.
Friendly Soul held off all challengers to head a Gosden one-two and claim the Prix de l'Opera Longines, in a notable succcess for jockey Kieran Shoemark.
A 9/1 shot, John and Thady Gosden's filly came into the Group One event in form having won her last two starts at a lesser grade.
She stepped up to the top level this time and seemed to find little hardship in the testing ground, rounding the home turn in front and pressing on to score from stablemate Running Lion, giving Shoemark a first Group One since stepping into the shoes of Frankie Dettori at Clarehaven Stables.
Francis-Henri Graffard trained the first two home as Vertical Blue caused an 100/1 upset in flooring hot favourite Zarigana in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.
All the talk pre-race surrounded the Aga Khan-owned market leader - who is a granddaughter of the great Zarkava - and after travelling in mid-division it looked as though she would only have to peg back Aidan O'Brien's enterprisingly-ridden Exactly to prevail.
Her stablemate Vertical Blue went with her, however, and the judge had to be called to announce the outsider as the winner with Zarigana narrowly behind and Exactly in third.
Ramatuelle roared back to winning form in the Qatar Prix de la Foret.
Off the track since finishing third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Christopher Head produced his filly at the top of her form as she dropped back to seven furlongs.
Partnered by Aurelien Lemaitre, Ramatuelle travelled supremely well throughout the Group One contest and it was very much a case of how far she would win when kicking clear.
Kinross tried his best to reel her in over the closing strides for the Arc-winning team of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, but Ramatuelle was too good and came home a clear winner.
