Olivier Peslier won the Arc a fourth time in 2012, and Frankie Dettori gambled his career in it
The Group 1 Prix de I’Arc Triomphe is won by a jockey each year, but winning it four times is obviously commendable. The honour of achieving just that, and way more goes to the sensational French rider, Olivier Peslier. This year it was more astonishing
than ever because he brought into the lime light an entry who was hardly acknowledged leave alone being considered in the frame of even the first three positions.
Jockey, Olivier Peslier, won while riding the low profile, Solemia. Success comes through if the team as a unit is strong, or if one member is extra ordinary enough to fade away the inferiority of the other. Figuring out who out of the two stood at which
end, it nothing complicated.
"Sometimes the jockey can make the difference and Olivier Peslier is the one who won the race."
Peslier, 39, said: "It's fantastic, for the yard, for everyone."
‘When I saw Orfevre coming I thought I would ride for second and third. But then he started slowing up and my filly just kept going.’
The race seemed more of a jockey’s chase for his fourth Arc title, but the jockey whom people anticipated was different. The crowds had their hopes tied with Camelot riding with jockey, Frankie Dettori.
The team seemed unbeatable even before the race began. How could there be any doubts about the success of the Triple Crown contender and the world class jockey?
Things however did not come out as simple, because the heavily supported entry did not only loose the race, he lost it crushing his integrity and dignity. Seventh without the presence of Danedream, Nathaniel and Snow Fairy, was brutal for the crowds who
had roared endlessly for the colt who was unbeaten until the Group 1 St Leger.
The things did not only go wrong in the Coolmore stud, because of the deep rooted rivalry with Goldolphin, Frankie Dettori sacrificed a little more than what was manageable at this stage of career. Frankie Dettori quite publicly denied any adverse impact
on his relations with the Godolphin string even though that did not seem to be the most likely outcome.
It will be hard to judge if the race has cost the Aidan O’Brien conditioned more or the jockey.
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