Global Weekly Review: Godolphin's Classic dreams for Wild Illusion

As Arc days go, the final one to take place in our time at Chantilly will go into the memory bank as something quite extraordinary.

No matter that an exceptional filly, the John Gosden-trained Enable, carved her name spectacularly on the honour roll that dates back to 1920, or that all six thoroughbred winners were trained in Britain or Ireland - no, there was something extra.

That additive can be traced to the consistently high level of end-to-end competition played out in front of the famous Chateau de Chantilly in breathtaking style.

This was a day of high class French racing run as if it was actually being staged under British conditions. Instead of customary sit and sprint, the pace and pressure was on right from the second the stalls opened. Royal Ascot had been exported across the Channel for the day.

No wonder Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby had long been looking forward to this Arc Day, and with Wild Illusion defiantly holding her rivals at bay to land the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, and Masar gamely taking third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Appleby was already looking forward to next year.

"That's Wild Illusion done for the season. She will now be put away for the winter," Appleby reported. "I see her as the type for next year's 1,000 Guineas, though I think she will progress to distances beyond that. A mile and a quarter would be a lovely trip for her in time.

"I thought it was interesting that the fillies in the Marcel Boussac ran the 1,600m over a second faster than the colts in the Lagardere.

"Masar ran really well for his third. He's another, who won't run again this year. He's had four starts and the experience has been good for him. I wouldn't rule out the 2,000 Guineas, but he's probably more a Derby type, and he wants to get back on a sound surface," the trainer pointed out.

Meanwhile, Mythical Magic, fifth in the Lagardere, failed to get the trip, Appleby said. "We'll run him next in the seven-furlong Criterium International on October 29.

He also had news of Wuheida, who finished a creditable fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. "I would like to take her to the nine-furlong G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar (on November 4) for her next run," he said. 

Apart from the excellent second of Cloth Of Stars in the G1 Arc, the other Godolphin performance to catch the eye was the very good third of the Clive Cox-trained Profitable in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye.