A “LINK” TO THE PAST

All the talk centered around the big names among the older horses before yesterday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de
Triomphe Lucien Barriere, but it was the sophomore Rail Link (GB) (DANSILI) {GB}) who came to the fore in a stellar renewal at Longchamp.

Khalid Abdullah's G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner was allowed to drift to an inflated 23-1 in the face of heavy support for Deep Impact (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), but surpassed the 1-2 crowd's choice approaching the final
eighth. Stephane Pasquier hand rode the bay to ensure victory and, despite the late flourish of Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), he had an ultimately cozy neck margin to spare at the line. "This is a great reward for Juddmonte Farms and Khalid Abdullah, and the fact that he is by DANSILI, who I trained, gives me twice the pride," commented Andre Fabre, registering his seventh Arc success. I'm just part of the chain and my pride is in the horse, whom I have always loved.

Rail Link lost his rider on his debut at Saint-Cloud Apr. 10 and was second on his next start at Chantilly May 10. But since his graduation at Saint-Cloud 19 days later, the Juddmonte homebred has stayed on a steep upward curve. Taking the rise in class in his impressive stride when recording the first of three course-and-distance wins in the June 20 G3 Prix du Lys, he went on to annex the July 14 Grand Prix de Paris. Rail Link returned from a summer rest to win this race's main sophomore prep, the Sept. 10 G2 Prix Niel. Breaking well in the Arc, he found himself in front out of the gates before being restrained to track Deep Impact in mid-pack as Irish Wells (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) and then Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) took the field along. Traveling strongly into the straight as the Japanese challenger took over, he rolled by that rival with 12 furlongs remaining and had already ensured the win as Pride closed.

"He's a lovely horse who has taken time to mature," Teddy Grimthorpe, the owner/breeder's racing manager, explained. "He's kept on improving with each start, and when he won the Grand Prix de Paris, he showed he
was a high-class horse. Especially in the last three months, Andre has been delighted with him, but to win
like that is unbelievable. I will speak to Prince Khalid and Andre, but I would imagine he's through for the
season, as he will be kept in training as a four-year-old. It's fantastic for Juddmonte and for DANSILI, who has
had a tremendous year."Rail Link's dam Docklands, who resides at Banstead Manor, has the two-year-old
colt Crossharbour (GB) (Zamindar), a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB) and a 2006 filly by Barathea (Ire).

Date: 02 October 2006