Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2012 Results

No matter how many times you watch the finish to this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it’s still hard to believe that Orfevre (JPN) didn’t win the race. The Japanese Triple Crown winner looked for all intents and purposes to be a sure winner inside the final furlong but couldn’t maintain his run and was nipped by Solemia (IRE) in the shadow of the winning post.

Below is the video from the 2012 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe from the French racing authority. You’ll need to practice up on your French to understand what the announcers are talking about so here are some crib notes on what to look for:

In a race billed as a battle between Epsom Derby winner Camelot (GB) and Japanese Triple Crown champion Orfevre (JPN), it was the French trained Solemia (IRE) that stole the show with a last gasp, neck victory over Orfevre in the final strides. Masterstroke finished third and Haya Landa (FR) rounded out the top four.

Orfevre’s defeat was a crushing blow to the Japanese contingent as they looked to have finally won their first Arc after many attempts over the past decade. Inside the final quarter mile, Orfevre sprinted away from the field and looked to be a certain winner. But Solemia and Olivier Peslier just kept running and running and running through the final yards, surging past the Japanese champion in the final strides to win Europe’s biggest prize.

The €4,000,000 ($5.1 million) 2012 Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will take place on Sunday, October 7th at Longchamp in Paris. The Arc, one of the most prestigious events in all of horse racing, will feature the Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas winner Camelot (GB) and Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre (JPN).

Defending champion Danedream (GER) was unable to make the race due to an outbreak of an equine disease at her home base in Cologne, Germany.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe isn’t just the biggest race in Europe, it’s one of the most important races in thoroughbred racing anywhere in the world. First run in 1920, the Arc is a mile and a half race over the famed Longchamp Racecourse in Paris and typically features a large and competitive field of the best colts and fillies in Europe, as well as top horses from Japan. Horse trained in France and England/Ireland have dominated the Arc during it’s history, winning 82 of the previous 90 editions of the race. An American-trained horse has never won the Arc.

Let’s take a look at this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: