Bago runs down Cherry Mix to win Arc

Bago runs down Cherry Mix to win Arc

Bago outgamed Cherry Mix to win one of Europe’s most prestigious events (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) BAGO (Nashwan) went undefeated during his juvenile campaign last year, but dropped his past two starts. On Sunday, all that was forgotten as the three-year-old gave his owner, the Niarchos family, as well as jockey Thierry Gillet a first victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp, France. Settled back in midpack, Bago and Gillet waited patiently as North Light (Danehill) and Tap Dance City (Pleasant Tap) battled it out on the front end, with North Light getting the advantage. It proved too much for the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner, though, and he faded as Cherry Mix (Linamix) moved up to take command. As the wire drew closer, the longshot looked a winner. It wasn’t to be, though, as Bago suddenly appeared with a perfectly timed ride from Gillet, who had let Cherry Mix pull away in the stretch. Accelerating in the final yards, Bago drew even before putting in a final burst of speed to cross under the line a half-length better than Cherry Mix. He finished the about 1 1/2-mile event in 2:25 over the good turf.

Cherry Mix held Ouija Board (Cape Cross [Ire]), queen of the
English (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) earlier this year, to
third by a length. Ouija Board’s trainer, Ed Dunlop, was thrilled with the
performance.

“She has proved again that she is the best of her sex in Europe with a
top-class run,” Dunlop said. “I think any normal year she would have
won as she was too far back and we’ll have a go again next year. In the meantime
she might go for the (October 30) Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).”

It was another two lengths back to Acropolis (Sadler’s
Wells) in fourth, and next came North Light, Vallee Enchantee (Peintre
Celebre), Latice (Inchinor [GB]), Silverskaya (Silver Hawk),
Warrsan (Caerleon), Valixir (Trempolino), Execute (Suave Dancer),
Blue Canari (Acatenango), Pride (Peintre Celebre), Imperial
Dancer (Primo Dominie), Mamool (In the Wings [GB]), Prospect Park
(Sadler’s Wells), Tap Dance City, Grey Swallow (Daylami [Ire])
and Policy Maker (Sadler’s Wells). Shirocco (Monsun) was
withdrawn.

Trained by Jonathan Pease, Bago adds the Arc to scores in the
Criterium International (Fr-G1), Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1), Grand
Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) and Prix des Chenes (Fr-G3). He finished
third in the International (Eng-G1) and Prix Niel (Fr-G2) in his
two starts prior to Sunday.

Pease
described Bago as “the best horse I have trained,”
before Racing Manager Alan Cooper paid his tribute.

“This is
an enormous event for the Niarchos team and everyone involved
with the farms and the training,” he said. “We always
felt Bago was an exceptional horse, but at York the sticky ground
didn’t help and again was slightly against him in the Niel. He showed us in the mornings that he had bounced back from that
race, which actually helped bring him forward.”

Bago could find himself up against older rivals in his next
start as well, with a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) a
good possibility.