Mighty Dylan Thomas crowned champion at Longchamp
8th October 2007
On a glorious autumn afternoon at Longchamp on Sunday, the brilliant Dylan Thomas (4c Danehill-Lagrion, by Diesis) came home to a huge cheer in front of the packed stands as he landed his sixth Group 1 success in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The son of Danehill took the lead under Kieren Fallon in the final furlong and battled on to beat Youmzain by a head in a great finish.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Dylan Thomas, who became the sixth Irish-trained horse to land the Arc, had to survive a 35-minute stewards’ enquiry before he was finally confirmed the winner of France’s greatest prize.
Dylan Thomas’s haul of G1 successes also includes the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes last year and this season’s Prix Ganay, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes once again. After winning the latter, Fallon described Dylan Thomas as the best horse he had ever ridden.
O’Brien added: "He is a marvellous horse and has won despite everything. Everyone knows he is best on hard ground but he is a wonderful horse and Kieren gave him a great ride. On real fast ground he is amazing. We were worried about the ground but he has overcome it today with his determination and he always gives his all.
"We felt coming into the race that this horse is a heavyweight and a lot of the horses in it were still middle or lightweights. The plan if everything goes well is to go for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"I am not sure if he will stay in training next year but he probably won't. He is so unique and is the last of the Danehills so you can't afford for anything to happen to him."
Danehill enjoyed another G1 success the previous day at Santa Anita when Artiste Royal (6h Danehill-Agathe, by Manila) was sent out by trainer Neil Drysdale to landed the G1 Clement L Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship by a length.
Artiste Royal, who was bred by Dayton Investments, could now bid for victory in the G1 Japan Cup next month.
"We hope this horse will be invited to the Japan Cup. That’s what’s in the cards. That’s the plan," said Drysdale.