'He's done everything': Arc hero Sottsass retired to stand at Coolmore

Arc hero Sottsass has been retired to stud after his Longchamp heroics on Sunday.

The three-time top-level winner, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, held on by a neck to defeat In Swoop in the Longchamp showpiece, having finished third in the race last year.

A potential Breeders’ Cup Turf tilt had not been ruled out in the immediate aftermath of the race but it has now been confirmed Sottsass, owned by White Birch Farm and Coolmore, will not race again.

Full result, replay and analysis of Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

White Birch Farm's Peter Brant said: "The horse is going to go to stud at Coolmore and I am a big believer that a horse should go to stud when they are ready, when they look fine like a shiny penny, and not beat up.

"The horse has done everything in the world I could have asked him for. He’s won the Jockey Club, the Ganay and the Arc de Triomphe. It’s just an amazing feat.

He’s a beautiful horse and he is so well bred. His sister will represent us at the Breeders’ Cup, Sistercharlie."

Sottsass and Cristian Demuro are led in after winning the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de TriompheCredit: Edward Whitaker

The four-year-old struck at the top level for the first time at three in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, before finishing third to Waldgeist at Longchamp – who was similarly retired after winning the Arc.

Sottsass landed the Prix Ganay on his second start this season, and after defeat in a Deauville Group 3 and the Irish Champion Stakes, he produced a career-best effort on his final start to win France’s most prestigious race.

Brant added: "I was with my wife in our bedroom watching it. We were so excited the house almost came down. It was phenomenal. It’s been a lifetime dream to win that race, which I consider one of the greatest in the world.

"Last year at the Arc he looked great and I thought he ran well but the ground finally got the better of him, as it did Enable. I have all the admiration for her in the world, I think she’s one of the greatest specimens of a horse I’ve ever seen.

"John Gosden is a great trainer and a gentleman and was one of the first to congratulate me, he sent me a lovely text. If anyone else besides me could have won I would have wanted it to be him."

Read more in the aftermath of the Arc:

Enable A1 after Arc disappointment but no decision on retirement yet

Arc reflections: key takeaways from a pulsating weekend in Paris

Form suggests the horse to take out of this year's Arc didn't run in the race

Our experts with their eyecatchers from Arc weekend at Longchamp

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