LONGCHAMP 15:05

All 18 ran.

Time: 2m 29.17s

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 102.7%

A wide-open Arc on paper, and although it was lacking a standout performer it's hard to argue with the strength in depth of the field, 12 of the 17 successful in a Group 1, 3 of them classic winners this year; the winner was actually one of the handful who hadn't won at the highest level, becoming the first winner by a previous winner of the race since the Montjeu-sired Hurricane Run in 2005, making up for the luckless Sea of Class, and the first winner in the Aga Khan colours since the brilliant Zarkava in 2008; the draw undoubtedly played a part, the first 3 home having emerged from the inside 3 stalls with fourth-placed Giavellotto berthed just a couple wider, the first 2 both getting very good runs through the race but still pulling far enough clear at the end of a well-run affair to think the form is worth rating as the best running of the race since Waldgeist prevented Enable's treble in 2019.

DARYZ (FR) became the second colt in 3 years to win the Arc having not run as a 2-y-o, in his case not until April, some 2 months after the death of Aga Khan IV (who won this race 4 times, most recently with Zarkava in 2008), helped by a low draw and a ground-saving ride, but full value for his success on the day, one of the better ones on form in recent years; in touch travelling smoothly, he was wisely angled off the inside 5f out and switched further wide to challenge 2f out, grinding his way past Minnie Hauk in the final 50 yds as the pair of them pulled well clear of the rest; it's no surprise at all from his pedigree (by an Arc winner out of a Prix de Royallieu and Hong Kong Vase winner who was successful up to 13.5f) that he was suited by this first taste of 1½m, and perhaps he could dominate the European middle-distance division if kept in training at 4 yrs, although his year-older stablemate Calandagan will have something to say about that.

MINNIE HAUK (IRE) came within 50 yds of extending her perfect season, everything going smoothly having broken well from the inside draw as she went with zest tracking the pace, was angled off the inside around 4f out before being produced to lead over 2f out, edging left in the final 1f and collared late on; perhaps Soumillon could have slightly delayed committing for home but to criticise the ride would be unfair, beaten by a fractionally better horse on the day, without whom she'd have been a really impressive winner, for context running to a rating at least as high as the last 3 female-won renewals; she'd presumably been in line to be covered by Wootton Bassett before the recent sad news of his early death, so a visit to Justify may well be on the cards, the option there for a swansong in the Breeders' Cup Turf en route.

SOSIE (IRE) went a place better than in the race last year without threatening to get close to a pair for whom things went very smoothly; soon steadied, headway 2f out, stayed on to take third dying strides.

GIAVELLOTTO (IRE) held his own in a top-class European 1½m Group 1, even though the rain over the weekend was unlikely to have aided his cause; held up on inside, progress into mid-division 4f out, chased leaders under 2f out, lost third dying strides; presumably a repeat bid for the Hong Kong Vase - in which he did remarkably well to win last year - is on the cards.

BYZANTINE DREAM (JPN) who attracted good late support, gave a good account of himself, doing comfortably best of the Japanese-trained trio, but a wide draw did him no favours at all and he couldn't confirm Prix Foy form with Sosie; slowly away and soon switched behind field, crept closer up inside gradually from halfway, smooth headway onto heels of leaders over 2f out, no extra final 1f.

ARROW EAGLE (FR) had plenty to find on form and ran as well as could be expected; raced well off the pace, still last 2f out, stayed on gradually between horses while hanging right.

KALPANA didn't have things go her way at all in first-time cheekpieces and didn't run badly whatsoever under the circumstances; raced wide and soon steadied, forced even wider (5 deep) approaching home turn, headway 2f out, effort flattened out only well inside final 1f; she looks set to end the year without a win, but that is an unfair reflection on a campaign that has seen her push her rating up beyond that she achieved at 3 yrs.

LEFFARD (FR) ran at least as well as when winning the Grand Prix de Paris, and there may yet be a slightly bigger performance in the locker under the right circumstances; raced off the pace, bumped around halfway, still plenty to do over 2f out, had to pick way through (ended up on far rail), plugged on.

QUISISANA (FR) had more to find back against males and wasn't up to it, alongside the winner turning for home but soon fading as she paid the price for having not settled fully.

HOTAZHELL is better judged on his fairly encouraging run in the Irish Champion Stakes last time, the effort of getting prominent from a wideish draw telling, not certain to stay this far in any case; led 4f, remained prominent until 2f out, faded.

AVENTURE (IRE) who'd beaten Bluestocking in the Vermeille last year before finishing second to her in this, can have a line put through this run; 3-wide in mid-division, took keen hold, forced even wider from 3f out, brief headway 2f out, not sustain effort.

WHITE BIRCH doesn't look as good as he was last year and could make little impression from off the pace.

GEZORA (FR) had little go right, starting with the draw; broke well before shifting left and soon taken right back to rear, snatched up briefly under 4f out, made little impression sticking towards the inner.

CROIX DU NORD (JPN) had pipped Daryz to win the Prix du Prince d'Orange here 3 weeks earlier but couldn't perform on the big day, doing too much too soon from an admittedly very difficult draw; took strong hold, led after 4f, headed over 2f out, weakened.

CUALIFICAR winner of the Niel here 4 weeks earlier, can have a line put through this run; soon steadied, forced 4-wide over 5f out, made no impression.

ALOHI ALII (JPN) after 8 weeks off, seemed to be beaten by more than stamina alone over this 2f longer trip, impressing with the way he'd won at Deauville in his prep run but perhaps not achieving as much as it appeared that day; settled mid-field, lost place 2f out, not persevered with once held.

LOS ANGELES (IRE) has gone the wrong way this year and ran particularly poorly tried in cheekpieces, chasing the leaders until the home turn before dropping away quickly; he'll presumably be covering NH mares come the spring.