Flintshire wins Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga

Flintshire warmed up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the best possible way after the popular five-year-old won the Grade One Sword Dancer Stakes. at Saratoga.

Capably ridden by rising star Vincent Cheminaud, Andre Fabre's son of Dansili notched a noteworthy success when he denied Red Rifle by two and a half lengths.

Flintshire finished second to Treve in last season's Arc and will again be pointed towards Longchamp on the first weekend in October.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He's a remarkable horse.

"He's just so unbelievably consistent. He's travelled the world. He's won in Hong Kong, he's won in Dubai, and now he's won here.

"He's always been a very sound type of horse and the way he races, and the sort of value of the races that are available to him around the world, makes him a really attractive proposition for us.

"It's hugely important to get a win like this before the Arc."

Sky Bet cut his Arc de Triomphe odds from 33/1 to 20/1, but connections will be hoping that there isn't much ease in the ground at Longchamp.

Private Zone will head to the Breeders' Cup fixture after his facile success in the Grade One Forego Stakes.

Jorge Navarro's six-year-old secured his fourth top-level victory with a ruthless defeat of The Big Beast.

"He's a special horse. He's all horse," Navarro said.

"I just talked to the owners and our plan is to train him up to the Breeders' Cup. I didn't have him last year, but I think he's getting better and better. The more I have him, the more he shows me."

Trainer Maria Borell secured her first Grade One triumph when Runhappy pulled four lengths clear of Limousine Liberal in the nyra.com King's Bishop Stakes.

"I'm overwhelmed," Borell said. "I knew he was a good horse or we wouldn't have bought him up here.

"I'm just so lucky to have this opportunity now with this horse."