Mighty upset to start Arc day as outsider Vertical Blue beats odds-on stablemate Zarigana

Francis Graffard admitted he hadn't been able to cheer at the end of a pulsating Prix Marcel Boussac as his red-hot favourite Zarigana and the improving Vertical Blue duelled all the way to the line. 

Mickael Barzalona looked to go at least a neck up on the previously unbeaten Zarigana but Vertical Blue defied odds of 33-1 on the PMU – and 100-1 with British bookmakers – under Alexis Pouchin to win out by a nose, sparking tearful scenes of joy in the winner's enclosure from father-and-son owners Francis and Benjamin Teboul. 

Graffard made no secret beforehand that he felt Vertical Blue – who was beaten in a Listed race at Lyon on her previous start – had continued to progress on the back of four previous runs, though the feeling that Zarigana was already on the way to becoming the natural air to her grandmother Zarkava meant he had barely been asked about his second runner. 

"There was nothing in it at the line and Mickael thought he had got up, but Alexis said his filly kept finding more and he was confident she would keep on all the way to the line," said Graffard.

"There's a lot of emotion because I felt a lot of pressure with the Aga Khan's filly, with so much expectation surrounding her. I still think she is exceptional, but Vertical Blue has experience and is improving all the time. The ground was fine for her and there was nothing in it at the line."

Though drawn just outside her stablemate in stall six, Vertical Blue slipped onto the rail early as the two Graffard-trained fillies sat three back from the lead, with Zarigana charting the same wide course she had when dominating the trial here last month.

"I think Zarigana ran an exceptional race because it's not easy coming up the middle at Longchamp with a big crowd, while Vertical Blue had a lovely run up the inside."

Owner Benjamin Teboul struggled in vain to contain tears as he explained what Vertical Blue's success meant to him and his family.

"It's exceptional, [to beat] Zarigana and the others, when we had no pretensions to win this race," said Teboul. "Alexis has ridden a dream race and Francis Graffard has produced exceptional work to have her at the top today. 

"We won the Vermeille here a few years ago with Sweet Lady and to have a second Group 1 winner here, especially on Arc day, is unbelievable."

Princess Zahra Aga Khan was magnanimous in defeat after seeing her family's much-vaunted Zarigana beaten on the line, and was insistent Graffard joined the celebrations surrounding Vertical Blue.

"Regardless of the outcome today, she's earned her place at stud," said Princess Zahra. "It's fine, that's racing. She's only two, that was only her third start and we have next year to look forward to. We're not sad because she's run a blinder. I'm happy for Francis."

Graffard confirmed Zarigana was finished for the season and, while a discussion will be had over the Breeders' Cup for Vertical Blue, the daughter of Mehmas is also likely to be rested until the spring.

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