Sectional review: final splits set relentless Waldgeist apart

The rain-softened ground at Longchamp took its toll on the 12 runners in this year's Arc and sectional timings suggest that while Waldgeist was running at a consistent, fast speed in the final three furlongs, the likes of Enable and Sottsass were finding the going tough close to home.

Taken along at a good pace by Ghaiyyath from the outset, the lesser-fancied runners duly faded in the straight as Frankie Dettori unleashed Enable to the roar of the crowd.

It looked as though she was about to make history when she ran between the two and one furlong markers in a blistering 12.37 seconds (only Japan was faster at 12.28sec) but could not maintain her burst, producing a 13.40sec closing furlong.

Waldgeist had sectionals below 13 seconds in the final three furlongsCredit: Edward Whitaker

The one-second difference between those showed the very soft conditions tested her stamina and while she was slowing, the Andre Fabre-trained winner Waldgeist was closing at a rapid rate of knots.

Waldgeist was ridden cold before being produced with a sustained run down the middle of the track in the final three furlongs, recording sectional times of 12.92sec (3f-2f), 12.44sec (2f-1f) and a closing 12.72sec.

Waldgeist, the only runner that went under 13sec for each of the last three furlongs, managed to close a length deficit in four strides and ended up running out a decisive victor by a length and three-quarters.

In behind, Japan showed a significant turn of foot when posting the quickest sectionals between three furlongs and one furlong out (12.88sec, 12.25sec), before clearly feeling the conditions late on, slowing almost 1.3sec in the final furlong.

Despite that, Aidan O'Brien's runner still posted the second-quickest final three-furlong time behind the eventual winner, while Enable and Sottsass ran an almost identical time over the same distance.

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