Five epic Arcs: Dancing Brave's demolition of vintage field still a joy to watch

Dancing Brave 1986

A vintage Arc that included Bering, Shahrastani, Shardari, Acatenango and Triptych, but Dancing Brave made them look strictly third-rate with a sensational finishing burst.

Pat Eddery rode the Derby runner-up with supreme confidence, and there were more horses in front of Dancing Brave than behind when turning into the short Longchamp straight.

After tracking Shahrastani, who had beaten him at Epsom, Eddery made his move.

Switched widest of all, the Guy Harwood-trained champion quickened impressively to lead in the final strides and record one of the most memorable triumphs in the race's illustrious history. It is still a joy to watch, 33 years later.

Dylan Thomas 2007

Authorized started a red-hot 11-10 favourite under Frankie Dettori, but it was Dylan Thomas and Kieren Fallon who stole the show with a controversial victory that combined class and sheer tenacity.

Held up in midfield, Dylan Thomas began to make his effort two furlongs out, and produced such a burst of speed that he had seized command from stablemate Soldier Of Fortune less than a furlong later.

The 66-1 outsider Youmzain lunged late, at one time looking likely to nail Dylan Thomas, but the Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old dug deep to hold him by a head.

A subsequent stewards' inquiry seemed to last forever, but Dylan Thomas was eventually confirmed the winner. It was thoroughly deserved.

Sea The Stars: electric turn of footCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sea The Stars 2009

Sea The Stars went off the 4-6 favourite on the back of a run of seven straight wins, which included the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Eclipse.

The colt had an aura of invincibility during those races, and few contemplated the possibility of defeat when he faced 18 rivals on the first Sunday of October in 2009.

There was an early scare when Sea The Stars took a keen hold, but once Mick Kinane had got things under control the result was indeed never in doubt.

As usual, Sea The Stars quickened on request to lead over a furlong out, and simply pulverised race-regular Youmzain by two lengths.

It might not have been the most dramatic of wins, but in terms of sheer beauty and poetry of motion, Sea The Stars scored a perfect ten out of ten.

Treve: crack filly scooted clear to win her second ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

Treve 2014

Treve had been brilliant when landing the 2013 Arc on soft ground by five lengths from the Japan challenger Orfevre.

She had been an odds-on flop in three subsequent runs, but the real Treve was back in time for the 2014 Arc.

Punters may have deserted her - she started at 11-1 - but the faith shown by rider Thierry Jarnet was rewarded.

Jarnet knew he was on the best horse in the race, and rode Treve with the confidence of a man who felt he could produce her to win the race whenever he felt the time was right.

That moment came early in the straight. Treve duly cruised to the front just under two furlongs out, and powered clear to beat Flintshire by two lengths. What a mare.

So close: Enable pushed hard by Sea Of ClassCredit: Edward Whitaker

Enable 2018

A setback earlier in the year meant Enable, the 2017 winner, had enjoyed by no means the best of preparations.

In fact, the only time she'd been seen on a racecourse since that memorable afternoon at Chantilly was when beating Crystal Ocean by three and a half lengths in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton.

John Gosden's runner only held onto her crown in one of the closest finishes in the race's history after travelling through nine-tenths of the magical event as in a league of her own.

After stamping her authority on proceedings with her trademark turn of foot, it proved an agonising final 100 yards for connections as Sea Of Class eroded the deficit with every stride.

Enable prevailed by a short neck, and the heartbeats of her supporters have only recently returned to normal!

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app