'Extraordinary beast' Bluestocking claims Arc win

Bluestocking gave trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan their biggest win with victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

The four-year-old had been added to the field at a cost of £100,000 by owner-breeders Juddmonte after her impressive win in the Prix Vermeille at the Paris track last month.

The filly, who went off at 5-1, tracked the Aidan O'Brien-trained Los Angeles and Ryan Moore from the start.

She dug deep to finish strongly and hold off runner-up Aventure, with Los Angeles third, to land a record seventh win in Europe's richest race and £2.4m prize money for the late Khalid Abdullah's racing operation.

"She is an extraordinary beast," Beckett told ITV Racing.

"The draw helped. Rossa got her in the right place - everything went to plan and this is our best-ever day."

Ryan, who has ridden Bluestocking in her past seven races, said: "A horse can change your life - and she has mine."

Bluestocking had been backed down from 12-1 overnight and follows Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986), Rail Link (2006), Workforce (2010) and Enable (2017 and 2018) as Juddmonte-owned winners.

"It's extraordinary really. I grew up watching Rainbow Quest and Dancing Brave, so to train a winner in these colours is a huge thrill," said Hampshire-based Beckett, who was second with Westover last year.

There was sad news after the race with confirmation that Haya Zark - who had been pulled up by jockey William Buck - was fatally injured.