Sakhee and jockey Frankie Dettori winning the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Dateline: 10/07/01

In the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Godolphin Racing's Sakhee captured Europe's biggest prize under a masterful ride by jockey Frankie Dettori. The win gave Dettori his 100th Group 1 victory. In the early going, 4-1 shot Saddler's Creek and huge longshot Anzillero led the procession around the huge Longchamp course, with Sakhee always close up in stalking position despite having to be rushed up early after breaking from the 15 hole. Foreign Affairs and Golan were also up near the front.

As the field raced down the backstretch, the quick pace took its toll and the early speed began to weaken, starting with Saddler's Creek who had dropped back to seventh in mid stretch and finished second last, beating only Chimes At Midnight who distanced as the 200-1 longest shot on the board. Anzillero earned the lead by default with 5f to go, but he too would tire and finish in 13th. Foreign Affairs, who had held fourth in the later stages, would fade at the top of the stretch and finish 10th.

Jockey Frankie Dettori celebrates his win in the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on favorite Sakhee.

Jockey Frankie Dettori aboard the winner said: "I was just the passenger. It was so easy, he could have gone around another time. He was a great horse, a beautiful horse to ride and very uncomplicated. I always thought that he was going to win this race but all I had to do was point him in the right direction."

Finish   Horse        Jockey     Distance Back
   3     Sakhee       Dettori                 
  17     Aquarellist  Boeuf          6 lengths
  10     Sagacity     Take           1 lengths
  15     Golan        Fallon         nose     

Final time:  2:26.10

Payoffs (based on 10F minimum):
Gangnant  3 - 32F (win)

Placé   3 - 20F  (combo of place and show)
       17 - 22F
       10 - 54F

Jumelé Gagnant  3-17 - 89F  (exacta)
Jumelé Placé    3-17 -  47F
                3-10 - 240F
               17-10 - 282F 
(this is like a quinella but your horses can 
finish in any of the top 3 positions)

Trio  3-17-10 - 1,223F  (trifecta)

The finish of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Sakhee 6 lengths in front. Although he is alone in the photo, you can see how far back the rest of the field is in the big screen television. Owner Sheikh Mohammed said: "He is not yet in the same league as Dubai Millennium but he is a very good horse."

The trophy presentation. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor (far left) said that he will likely go on to the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket instead of to the Breeders' Cup, citing distance concerns: "I still think that he is at his best over a mile and a quarter. We had to take our time with him, he had setbacks earlier this season, but we have always said that he is a good horse and he has proved himself."

Arc logo courtesy of France Galop, race photos by Bill Selwyn.

More about the Arc and French racing:

• Arc Preview - my article previewing the race with history, general info, post positions, past performances, etc.
• Arc de Triomphe official site - some parts French only but a useful site
• Ante Post Wagering Odds from Racing Post
• Phototheque - photos of the horses and their connections from France Galop
• More Phototheque - looks like a holding page to put up pictures after the race
• Video - from Paris Turf, looks like they will show the races live plus replays after
• Longchamp
• Current odds from various UK bookmakers
• Racing Post - certain to have news in English
• 2000 Arc de Triomphe results and photos - Sinndar was the winner
• French Racing - differences between racing in France and North America
• Arc de Triomphe winners
• More Arc de Triomphe links - including news and info about wagering in France

Previous Features

Discuss in my forum

• 2001 horse racing season
• prix de l'arc de triomphe
• sakhee
• frankie dettori
• saeed bin suroor