Fantastic Moon connections reverse decision to take him out of Arc after learning of €55,000 fine - then he finishes ninth

Fantastic Moon finished ninth in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe despite connections not wanting to run.

The horse's owners attempted to pull him out the race with the softening ground not in his favour. But the prospect of a €55,000 fine persuaded them to reverse their decision.

Moreover, the German challenger's connections had been told by the stewards the horse had to be allowed to run on his merits.

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Explaining what happened, France Galop's assistant director-general Henri Pouret said: "Apparently, the owner said on X that Fantastic Moon would be a non-runner. But he was not officially a non-runner.

"We have a procedure that the trainer should fill in a document to say the horse will be a non-runner. That was not done.

"They asked how much it would cost for the horse to be a non-runner. We told them it would be €55,000, which is a percentage of the total-prize money. Because of the value of the Arc it is quite expensive not to run. The trainer and the owner then discussed it together and, in the end, they decided to run the horse.

"A reminder was also been given to them by the stewards the horse has to run on its merits."

And run on his merits he did, with Rene Piechulek's mount settling in midfield and challenging until the final furlong when his effort faded.

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