Workforce wins Prix de l'Arc
October 4, 2010PARIS (AP) - Epsom Derby winner Workforce upset favorite Behkabad to win Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's richest horse race.
The three-year-old colt, ridden by Ryan Moore, held off a strong challenge from Nakayama Festa on the home stretch.
``He was back to his best today and we got a nice run through,'' Moore said. ``There was half a gap there and he was very brave and really quickened into it well.''
Workforce gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute his first win at the Prix de l'Arc. It also was Moore's first triumph in the prestigious race held at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris' Bois de Boulogne.
Sarafina finished third and Behkabad was fourth.
Workforce was only given the go-ahead to race after a final training run Thursday following a disappointing showing at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in his previous outing.
``If you have any ambition when you start training, you want to win the Arc,'' Stoute said. ``We have had a lot of horses running particularly well in it without doing it, so I'm thrilled.''