High-Speed Rail Back Next Year

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Rail Link is likely to stay in training as a four-year-old after giving French master Andre Fabre a remarkable seventh success in the autumn showpiece at Longchamp yesterday.

Last year's winner Hurricane Run and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Shirocco ensured Fabre had a formidable grip on the eight-strong field ? the smallest assembled since 1941 ? but it was the outsider of his trio who prevailed, some 20 years after the incomparable Dancing Brave had powered to success in the same Khalid Abdullah colours.

Fabre, who also secured back-to-back runnings in 1997 and 1998 with Peintre Celebre and Sagamix, said: 'They went a sensible pace. I was disappointed to see Hurricane Run boxed in, but I think the others had a fair race.

'It's just part of the chain to win the Arc again, but of course I'm delighted, I'm very proud ? and very proud for the horse.

'I thought they all had great chances, but it is always great to win with a three-year-old over older horses. My three are all Group One winners.

'Rail Link had won a Group One and won his prep so he was entitled to run.'

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Abdullah, said: 'We certainly thought he could do it, but it's easy to say that now. He's an improving horse and he's kept on improving with each start.

'When he won the Grand Prix de Paris he showed himself to be a very-high class horse and he's just improved and improved.

'In the last couple of weeks Andre has been really pleased with him and to win an Arc like that is just unbelievable.

'This race proves he is the best three-year-old in Europe. It would be a brave man to put another horse in front of him.

'It is unlikely he will run again this season. He has had five quite quick races on the trot so he has probably done enough for this year, but he is almost certain to stay in training.'

The weeks building up to the mile-and-a-half contest had been dominated by Fabre's better-fancied duo and Deep Impact, winner of the Japanese Triple Crown last year.

But the older brigade were upset by Rail Link, who paid 8-1 on the industry starting price in Britain but a huge 24-1 on the local Pari-Mutuel.

He mastered down Deep Impact inside the distance after an enthralling duel and eventually scored by a neck from the fast-finishing mare Pride.

Deep Impact ? a 1-2 chance locally at the off but 1-10 earlier in the day after a huge plunge by the 3,000-strong Japanese contingent ? was a further half-length back in third.

Hurricane Run failed to pick up in his customary fashion and took fourth after meeting with a troubled passage under Kieren Fallon, with St Leger winner Sixties Icon seventh and Shirocco last.

Pride has now been beaten in three Arcs but got closer than ever this time, and her owner Sven Hanson said: 'She will retire at the end of the season and we will see how she comes out of the race before making further plans. She could go for the Japan Cup and then on to Hong Kong.'

Deep Impact changed the face of the picturesque Paris track, with his legions of supporters cramming into the stands waving flags and wearing clothing adorned with their champion's colours.

Despite being odds-against with the British bookmakers, he was always trading much shorter in the local pool and the visitors created a betting market which Ladbrokes spokesman Mike Dillon described as 'crazy'.

However, there were many long faces when the four-year-old failed to go one better than El Condor Pasa, who went down by a narrow margin to Montjeu in 1999.

But his trainer Yasuo Ikee was sporting in defeat and said: 'He's run his race and I thought he ran very well, but today there were two better horses.

'I would like to come back and try again next year. His condition was in top form and I thought he was 100 per cent.'

(C) PA Sport