Murtagh lands l'Abbaye on Gallery Total Gallery sprung a surprise as he powered to victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. Trained by Stan Moore, the British raider made the leap to the highest level with a gutsy success under Johnny Murtagh. Fleeting Spirit finished fast up the rail but could not peg back the winner, while War Artist just edged out Benbaun for third. Equiano set the early pace under Kieren Fallon with Benbaun and Strike Up The Band also prominent in the early exchanges. Murtagh was sitting just on their heels aboard Total Gallery and he began to make his move some way out as Equiano started to toil. He looked set for a real battle in the final furlong as favourite Fleeting Spirit really started to motor but she could not find the necessary extra, leaving Total Gallery to claim a landmark success for Moore. War Artist finished fast and late down the outside to just shade third place from Benbaun and ensure a British clean sweep of the places. Moore said: "He's a top-notch horse and what he did earlier in the year was just a bonus. "He's improved and improved this year, but we thought the ground might have been too quick for him. "He's proved there that he's a pretty awesome horse. "Johnny said that he's the best sprinter he's ridden since his (Total Gallery's) father (Namid). "Johnny said coming in that he'll be an awesome horse next year. "We'll have to do a gameplan for him next year, but that'll probably be it for him this season. "He's a horse who has the world as his oyster."
