Five memorable Arcs, including a Frankie Dettori masterclass on Golden Horn

The Arc is the highlight of the European Flat racing calendar and there have been some stirring scenes at Longchamp over the years. Here we pick out five of the most memorable Arcs . . .

Mill Reef (1971)

The Ian Balding-trained Derby winner secured the rare Epsom-Longchamp double when beating French star Pistol Packer by three lengths.

Geoff Lewis’s mount burst to the front on the inside rail with two furlongs to run and the result was not in much doubt from that point onwards.

Mill Reef was denied a repeat bid when suffering a career-ending injury on the gallops the following year.

Dancing Brave (1986)

Shahrastani, Acatenango and Triptych were among the top-level stars to contest the big race in 1986, but Dancing Brave set himself apart in one of the strongest Arcs to have been run.

The 2,000 Guineas, Eclipse and King George winner was ridden with supreme confidence by Pat Eddery, switching widest of all in the straight and hitting the front in the final strides.

It was a career-highlight win for the Guy Harwood-trained champion in an Arc loaded with top quality performers.

Sea The Stars (2009)

Seven straight wins, including the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Eclipse, made Sea The Stars a warm order for the Arc in 2009 and he did not disappoint.

It was not entirely smooth sailing for the John Oxx-trained superstar as he was keen early and momentarily lost his footing on entering the straight.

Sea The Stars stretches clear for an awesome Arc successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Once in the clear, he quickened impressively for an easy two-length win over Youmzain, who was filling the runner-up spot for a third year in a row.

Golden Horn (2015)

This was all about the ride. From stall 14, Frankie Dettori did not have an easy task in steering Derby hero Golden Horn to Arc glory. He made it look impressively straightforward.

Dettori kept the star three-year-old wide early and did a tremendous job in gaining a fine position behind the pacemaker.

Despite being a tad keen, Golden Horn found plenty when needed to beat Flintshire by two lengths.

Enable (2018)

Juddmonte star Enable joined the horseracing greats by becoming the eighth dual winner of the Longchamp highlight in a spectacular finish between two top-class fillies.

Enable and Frankie Dettori hit the front inside the final furlong and a half and looked set to make history, but victory very much looked in doubt as Sea Of Class finished with a flourish late on.

Enable (near) denies Sea Of Class in the 2018 ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

Favourite backers ended up happy though as Enable, an evens shot, just held on by a short neck in a gripping finish.

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