Racing: Dettori enjoys golden day

Golden Horn and the irrepressible Frankie Dettori win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Photo / AP

Great display of horsemanship ensures success for colt in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The locals and, indeed, most neutrals turned up in droves at Longchamp yesterday yearning and expecting to see Treve make history with a third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory, but, instead, witnessed one of the finest rides in the race's great history as Frankie Dettori stole the show aboard Golden Horn.

Two years ago, Dettori, nursing a broken ankle, famously said that he needed extra painkillers for his broken heart after watching Treve, whom he would have ridden, win the 2013 Arc in spectacular fashion.

Last year he was taken off the horse after a Royal Ascot defeat at the insistence of trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.

So, though celebrations were slightly restrained, by Dettori standards, we can be sure that the three-time champion jockey was bursting with pride and satisfaction inside, his day made complete by a hug from his son Leo, making the trip to celebrate his 16th birthday.

Dettori's belief in the Derby winner Golden Horn was every bit as strong as almost everyone else's in Treve - and nowhere was that faith demonstrated more than at the start, when, from his wide draw, he made the first of two crucial tactical decisions.

He had two choices: stay wide and lose ground, or drop in and ride for luck. Dettori found a third way: stay wide without losing ground.

Dettori kept Golden Horn so wide for the first furlong that the rest must have wondered what he was playing at, but this was part of the plan.

Trainer John Gosden elaborated: "If you stay wide, you can ride your own little race, not be bothered by anyone, and then slot across."

Golden Horn was then able to track Treve's pacemaker, Shahah, close to the rail, while the great mare herself, nicely drawn in stall eight, was now out wide and nearer last than first, in exactly the sort of position the winner might have found himself in had Dettori not made such an early move.

Dettori made his second decisive move early in the home straight and though Andre Fabre's pair Flintshire and New Bay made a decent fist of chasing him down, neither looked like catching him. Treve, though plugging on into fourth, did not seem happy on ground described by most as good to firm.

"I'm sure she's done her stuff now, but hopefully she will become a wonderful broodmare," said Al Shaqab Racing's manager Harry Herbert, who expects Treve to now be retired.

Golden Horn will start stud duties next year, but may have one more run, in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Blowing his trumpet

•Golden Horn was supreme in his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe triumph.

•A great tactical ride by Frankie Dettori helped him defeat Europe's best stayers.

•Crowd favourite Treve will be retired after battling into fourth in her pursuit of a hat-trick.