Ruler Of The World pipped in Prix Niel Kizuna just edged out Ruler Of The World in a tremendous finale involving two Derby winners in the Qatar Prix Niel, the first of the three Arc trials, at Longchamp. It was Japanese Derby hero Kizuna who got the verdict on the nod over Epsom victor Ruler Of The World in a tight finish. Despite having endured a troubled passage to the line, Ryan Moore brought the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt with a late run and there was just a whisker in it. A photo-finish was called, with the Shozo Sasaki-trained Kizuna, ridden by Yutaka Take, getting the verdict by a short head. The Andre Fabre-trained Ocovango was third, with his stablemate Flintshire, who had gone into the race as ante-post favourite for the Arc, only fourth. A delighted Sasaki said: "This was his first run abroad so I'm very pleased. "He was about 80 per cent compared with the Japanese Derby, so we will work hard to get the final 20 per cent before the Arc." Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said of the vanquished Flintshire: "He has run a perfectly respectable race but the ground is soft and he can't show his best on it. "As to running in the Arc, we'll have to wait and see. We want to run, but the ground will have to come into it." "The first two home must now be regarded as serious contenders at Longchamp in three weeks' time," said spokesman Michael Shinners.
