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PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE 2004 REPORT

What a spectacle! Longchamp has never seen so many people attend this unique championship event. Although, the official figure is just over 57 000 racegoers , we estimate the numbers to be well over 60 000 when you add up all the free entrances .

The weather, this year, was perfect, not just for the racing, but also for every one else and especially for the ladies taking part in the best hats competition organized by the magazine ' Madame Figaro' and the 'Arc' sponsors ' Lucien Barriere' ( see below some of the best captions).

Now, back to racing; there were eight races on the card and six of them were Group 1 races. From the start to the finish, there was an uncredible buzz about the place. The Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe being the last of the Group one races, the punters, the showmen and showwomen all had time to impress!

The results:

The first Group 1 race , the Prix du Cadran, was won by the favourite Westerner. Second place went to Cut Quartz.

The second Group 1 race , Prix de l' Abbey, was won by Var & Frankie Dettori. Second place went to The Tatling.

The third Group 1 race , Prix de l' Opera, was won by Alexandra Goldrun. The favourite, Grey Lilas, came second

The 4th Group 1 race , Prix Marcel Boussac, was won by Divine Proportions. Titiane Time, came second

The 5th Group 1 race , Prix Jean Luc Lagardere, was won by Oratorio. Early March came second.

And now the ultimate race. With no real favourite, the race was wide open to start with. All the contenders stayed together until the last turn and the straight line. At the turn, North light and Tap Dance were still leading. As the pace quickened, Cherry Mix, on the inside, took over the lead from North light and Prospect Park .Then, came Bago and Thierry Gillet , in the last two furlongs, determined to catch the leader. His acceleration, during the last 100 metres, was amazing ! as, in the end, he managed to overtake Cherry Mix to win the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe 2004 .What a thrilling finish! ...