2 October 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
October 2, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – The 101st Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) was run in extraordinary conditions as heavy showers fell on the Parisian course minutes before the post and stopped only after Alpinista (Frankel) was crowned new World champion of the turf. Over a softened course, the Kirsten Ruausing homebred mare, who started as the betting favourite, dominated for the 6th consecutive time in a Gr1 race. The sensational finish of the French 3-year-old champion Vadeni (Churchill) was not good enough to challenge the grey mare, who won by half a length but without being really challenged by her younger rival. The title holder Torquator Tasso (Adlerflug) finished well in 3rd, beating a brave Al Hakeem (Siyouni) and the mare Grand Glory (Olympic Glory), coming from the depths of the 20 runners' field.
A fast pace was set by the Japanese raider Titleholder (Duramente), followed by Broome (Australia) and Deep Bond (Kizuna), with the French 3-year-old Al Hakeem (Siyouni) behind them. Alpinista was travelling in 5th until the last straight where a motionless Luke Morris got her to come by the leaders without any apparent effort, and he kept bidding his time as Vadeni was moving forward with Christophe Soumillon pushing. he never gave in but neither did the mare. As for Torquator Tasso, he came by outside in the final bend and once again kept going to the post and finish in third. Al Hakeem stayed on as well and was very brave to finish at two lengths, a length and a half in front of Grand Glory. The rest of the field went three lengths and more behind.
Alpinista won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) last time out. She had already come twice to France at 2 and 3. 4th at 2 in the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3) won by Savarin in 2019, she came back for her seasonal return, again in July, at Vichy when 4th again in the Prix Madame Jean Couturié (L). Second later in the Yorkshire Oaks (Gr1) won by Love, she's now unbeaten since her 2021 return and her Listed win at Goodwood. Since then, she took the Lancashire Oaks (Gr2), the Grosser Preis von Berlin (Gr1), the Grosser Preis von Europa (Gr1) in Cologne, the Grosser Preis von Bayern (Gr1) in Münich and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1).
Bred in Great-Britain by Kirsten Rausing, Alpinista is out of Alwilda (Hernando), a Listed-winner in Germany, sister to Algometer (Archipenko), who was placed in a Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2). They are all out of Albanova (Alzao), a triple Group 1 winner in Germany, a full sister to Alborada (Alzao), a Champion Stakes (Gr1) winner.