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| Staff Writer |
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Andre Fabre is plotting a path towards next summer's Gr.1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot for his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe fourth Sosie.
The Grand Prix de Paris victor, who was sent off favourite in Europe's richest race, found the ParisLongchamp ground too testing and couldn't unleash his trademark turn of foot when it mattered most, finishing behind Ralph Beckett's globe-trotting filly Bluestocking.
Fabre also saddled Sevenna's Knight, who excelled expectations to finish fifth, whilst multiple Group One heroine Mqse De Sevigne failed to bow out on a high note, trailing in the rear after being impeded by the injured Haya Zark.
Previous King George winners trained by Fabre include Hurricane Run (2006), who went on to land the Irish Champion Stakes, and Swain (1997), who later secured back-to-back Breeders' Cup Classics.
"All three are fine after the race. It was probably the ground which stopped Sosie," said Fabre. "He lost his action at the end but he ran OK. We knew he might not like the ground."
The master of Chantilly continued: "He will stay in training as a four-year-old and we'll concentrate on the big summer races such as the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the King George.
"Sevenna's Knight ran a good race but I wasn't surprised because he likes soft ground. He was out the back but ran really well to get where he did. It was what I was expecting. He's a good horse."
The US$5.5 million Arc runner is being aimed at the Group One Prix Royal-Oak, with Fabre adding: "If he's OK, he will run. He'll be happier over that trip, we know he stays it well."
Reflecting on Mqse De Sevigne's performance, Fabre said: "Her race was over at the start. She was drawn widest of all and lost too much ground. The race was over even before she was hampered. Both her and Continuous were at the back and as the pace was slow, they had no chance."
"I didn't think the three-year-old colts had a star amongst them but I'm not surprised at the winner, she's a very good mare but she was beaten at Ascot quite easily in the King George (by Goliath), so we know she's no superstar."
Fabre's Tribalist, successful in the Group One Prix du Moulin, failed to fire in the Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs, finishing 10th. "The trip was too short for Tribalist. He couldn't control the pace against those faster horses. He won't go to the Breeders' Cup. I won't have a runner there," Fabre concluded.