It wasn’t to be for Enable at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, when hometown hope Waldgeist foiled the mare’s bid to win a third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Enable was bidding to become the first horse to win the race three times. Sent off a hot favourite, it all looked to be going to plan when regular partner Frankie Dettori sent her on at the 400-metre poll, much to the joy of a near 50,000 crowd. However, the threat of Waldgeist, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, became more ominous with each passing yard and at the line the pair pipped Enable.

Dettori found it hard to disguise his disappointment but trainer John Gosden seemed like he had prepared for such a situation. He said: “When I walked the course with Frankie and saw how far the stick was going into the ground, I thought ‘Houston we’ve got a problem’. I can deal with the disappointment because she was fine after the race and I have a lot of respect for the winner and his connections.”

Waldgeist gave trainer Andre Fabre an eighth win in the race, four more than any other trainer.

Initially it was thought that Enable would be retired after yesterday’s race but that may not be the case now and connections may want to take in another trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup.

There was an Irish win earlier on the card when Albigna claimed the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac for Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington. She gave her trainer a second Group 1 in eight days, following Millisle’s win in the Cheveley Park. Harrington could land a remarkable juvenile fillies Group 1 treble if Cayenne Pepper takes Friday’s Fillies Mile at Newmarket.