Route to victory: how Alpinista defied the downpour to strike gold at Longchamp

Alpinista provided Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris with their first victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. Below we take a look at how the five-year-old landed the Group 1.

The winner Alpinista broke well from stall six and was immediately positioned prominently on the rail by Luke Morris. The jockey said he was a bit concerned by the testing ground after a downpour just before the race, but Alpinista travelled well in fifth with Westover on her outside. Broome and leading Japanese contender Titleholder set a strong early gallop.

The order remained relatively unchanged for much of the race, with Morris maintaining a good spot on the rail. The field began to string out a little with Titleholder and Broome making it a test of stamina.

The race starts to develop turning for home with Torquator Tasso, who broke from stall 18, looming on the outside under Frankie Dettori. Alpinista is well positioned in third behind Titleholder, while the eventual runner-up Vadeni is behind the leading group in fifth.

From here, it is a sprint to the finish, and with 300 metres to travel, Morris presses into the lead but does not ask a serious question of Alpinista. Vadeni and Christophe Soumillon follow them on their outside, while Torquator Tasso has a clear path on the wide outside.

Morris gets into a drive aboard Alpinista inside the final 150 metres and from here the five-year-old is all heart as she toughs it out to the line and holds off the challenge of the fast-finishing Vadeni by half a length, with defending champion Torquator Tasso taking third.

Result and analysis

Read more here

'I'm very lucky aren't I?' – awesome Alpinista earns Prescott glorious first Arc

From the all-weather to shining on Alpinista: how Luke Morris grafted to the top

'I thought we might get there' - Dettori reflects on valiant Torquator Tasso run (£)

2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: where your horse finished and who won

Racing Post Ratings: Not a vintage Arc but marvellous mare Alpinista produces another career best

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