On the Saturday of Arc weekend, Longchamp in Paris hosts two Group 1 stakes races along wih four Group 2 events. The first of the two Group 1 races is the €250,000 (about $345,000 U.S.) Total Prix de la Foret (g1) for older horses at 1400 meters (7 furlongs). Paco Boy was the 3-2 favorite over 5-2 African Rose and 5-1 Natagora, in the 8 horse field.
Duff went to the lead immediately and was stalked by Natagora for the first 5 furlongs, while favorite Paco Boy was held up near the back of the field early. At the top of the stretch, Duff tired and dropped from contention allowing Natagora to inherit the lead, but jockey Christophe Soumillon had moved Paco Boy to the outside for his rally. Paco Boy passed Natagora at the 1/8 pole and drew off late to an impressive 3 length victory in a time of 1:19.80 over the good turf course. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to U.S. Ranger third.
Results chart from Sporting Life
On to the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - won by the undefeated 3-year-old filly Zarkava
On to the Arc undercard stakes - the Prix de l'Opera, Prix de l'Abbaye, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and Prix Marcel Boussac. All are Group 1 races.
On to Saturday Stakes Part 2 - the Prix De Royallieu, Prix Chaudenay, Prix Daniel Wildenstein, and Prix Dollar
