FROM THE ARCHIVE PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE, OCTOBER 2000: SINNDAR ENTERED the history books and earned himself a place among the horseracing greats when he triumphed in yesterday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. But if Sinndar was superb, then no other word can do justice to his jockey, John Murtagh, who enjoyed one of the most successful days any rider has enjoyed in the sport, with a remarkable three Group One winners, writes BRIAN O'CONNOR
Sinndar’s trainer, John Oxx, also supplied Namid to win the Prix de l’Abbaye, and English trainer Michael Stoute saddled Murtagh’s winner of the Prix de l’Opera, Petrushka.
Those two winner’s purses, added to the Arc first prize of £576,369 (about €700,000 then), brought the financial gain of Murtagh’s winning mounts on the day to almost £700,000.
But Murtagh was calculating anything but money after he was beaten in the last race on the card on Oxx’s Prix du Cadran runner, Enzeli.
“Three will have to do!” said the ecstatic former champion jockey.
“I’m still on a high so I can’t put this in context, but it’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m just so, so happy for my family and my friends who have followed my career throughout the years.”
Murtagh added: “Sinndar was everything I said he would be – and more. I never had a moment’s worry through the race. He was just brilliant.”
Oxx also praised the best horse he has trained in his illustrious career. The 50-year-old Curragh trainer said: “He’s a great horse and a worthy Arc winner. There’s been a lot written on the run-up to the Arc of 2000 and I think they will still be writing about it in 2099.”
Sinndar justified all the plaudits in what was the centrepiece of a wonderful day for the Irish at French racing’s most famous racetrack, becoming the first Irish-trained Arc winner since Alleged won in 1977 and 1978.
No horse had completed the Epsom Derby-Irish Derby-Arc de Triomphe treble, but Sinndar routed the 1999 Arc hero and favourite Montjeu into fourth and ran out a length-and-a-half winner from Egyptband, with another French filly, Volvoreta, in third.
Afterwards, Murtagh, Oxx and the winning owner, the Aga Khan, along with members of their families, were carried by carriage to the front of the colossal Longchamp stands. After the presentation, the Irish national anthem rang out across the Bois de Boulougne.
“I want to stress that it has been the hard work of John Oxx and John Murtagh that has allowed Sinndar to express his talent today,” said the Aga Khan.
The France-based religious leader, who had won the Arc de Triomphe with Akiyda in 1982, also said it is “99 per cent likely” that Sinndar will stand at his Gilltown Stud in Co Kildare when the colt’s racing career finishes.
No decision has been taken on when that will be, and Oxx, for one, was happy just to dwell quietly on the merits of a horse who has achieved what previous Irish-trained superstars like Nijinsky (1970) and Santa Claus (1964) failed to do and win Europe’s end-of-season highlight.
“There are a lot of happy Irishmen here today and Sinndar has given a lot of pleasure to a lot of people throughout the year,” he said.
But the happiest of the lot had to be Murtagh, who entered the winner’s enclosure on Sinndar complete with an Irish Tricolour.
“It’s been a long time since Ireland has won the Arc, so enjoy yourselves,” Murtagh shouted, and no one was entitled to enjoy it more than the jockey.
