Racing: Paris belongs to Islington

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Year of lows and highs can end on the European summit for Stoute's remarkable filly

The rollercoaster emotions that anyone involved with horses knows as a matter of course have been encapsulated for Sir Michael Stoute this year in the elegant shape of the three-year-old filly Islington. After a winter of Classic dreams came hope in the spring that they could become reality after she won the Musidora Stakes. Disappointment followed, when she trailed in eighth in the Oaks. But high summer brought soaring delight and devastating victories in the Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks and today at Longchamp a golden autumn waits with the greatest prize in Europe the challenge.

Should Islington triumph in the 81st Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she will be yet another testament to the skill and dedication of Stoute and his team. Her Epsom venture was more than a defeat, it was a bruising, literally. After a rough race on bottomless ground she came home stiff, sore and miserable.

It is bad moments like that, involving pain, that can turn even the most generous horse off racing. Islington's rehabilitation needed patience, much of it supplied by her carers, the Thompson family: mum Annie at home and daughter Tracy at morning exercise. "It was a long time before the filly even had a saddle on her again," said Stoute. "We had to take her gently. For a horse to get over the mental effects of that sort of experience you have to get them right physically first, so there is no new association of discomfort and exercise. We did very little with her until nearly August."

Islington's performance in the Nassau Stakes, where she displayed her now-hallmark flashing acceleration and nearly broke the Goodwood track record despite being eased near the line, demonstrated that she had suffered no ill-effects. Another smashing display followed in the Yorkshire Oaks, where those in her wake included Kazzia, who had won the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks and has since taken a Grade One contest in North America.

She made a deep impression on today's rider Kieren Fallon that day but it has been her progress at home on the Newmarket gallops that has been brightening Stoute's mornings. Her power and athleticism have been maturing and blossoming to a remarkable degree. "She has become an outstanding specimen," said her trainer, "and is very straightforward."

The Arc is one of the few of Europe's top-level contests missing from Stoute's CV, though he has been peppering the flag in recent seasons. Pilsudski, runner-up in 1996 and 1997, had the misfortune to run into two exceptional winners, Helissio and Peintre Celebre; Golan, fourth to Sakhee last year, might have been closer with better luck in running.

Both those fine colts carried the same colours as Islington, the pale blue of the Weinstock family. They have not yet been lucky silks in Paris; before Pilsudski and Golan they were carried to third places by Homeric, Troy and Ela-Mana-Mou and to a runner-up spot by Sun Princess. Islington's dam Hellenic was eighth in the 1990 Arc, the first filly home with Salsabil and In the Groove behind her. Stoute would not be drawn on comparisons with past Parisian challengers, except to say: "She'll have to be better than her dam, won't she? But then, she is."

Success this afternoon would continue a bittersweet year for those closest to Islington, for her breeder Lord Weinstock died during the summer, just before she started to prove herself at Group One level. In the spring he dubbed her his "perfect filly" and by the end of today her trainer may have to agree.

The Arc will be Islington's most difficult task to date, her first clash with colts, and in 80 runnings only 15 distaffers have succeeded. The last was four-year-old Urban Sea nine years ago, although in the past five years Borgia, Leggera, Egyptband, Volvoreta and Aquarelliste have been placed. But Islington will have her favoured ground, she will stay every yard and owns that essential ability to quicken.

She can step out of the shadow of her stablemate Golan, the winner in July of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on his seasonal debut. In the game of chess that governs the sport that services the bloodstock industry at these élite levels, Golan, who will retire to Coolmore Stud next spring, seemingly has been diverted elsewhere to avoid a clash with another future Coolmore inmate, High Chaparral. It would be supremely ironic if his thunder was stolen by another Stoute-trained Weinstock colourbearer, and a girl to boot.

Should High Chaparral, like Islington by Sadler's Wells, prevail it will be another conditioning performance to evoke we-are-not-worthy salaams. The dual Derby winner has been blighted by the virus that has reduced the Ballydoyle firepower all summer, and has not run since he trounced his stablemates Sholokhov and Ballingarry at the Curragh at the end of June. "He has been working very well, but you never know until you get to the track," said Aidan O'Brien, "and while not having run for so long may not stop him, you can hardly say it's an advantage."

Derby winners have a patchy Arc record: of the 17 to have contested the race as three-year-olds, only the exceptional Sea-Bird, Mill Reef, Lammtarra and Sinndar have succeeded. Prix du Jockey-Club winners have not fared that much better, with only four colts doubling up in the post-war era, most recently Peintre Celebre and Montjeu. This year's Chantilly victor Sulamani will start favourite but perhaps the Epsom form looks stronger.

Those forward-thinking French racing administrators who created the Arc with the express purpose of attracting international competition would have been delighted with today's field, a home defence of eight against challengers from Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Japan. The best of the home side may be last year's runner-up Aquarelliste, although it is taken on trust that she will peak today after some below-par performances during the summer.

Though he is no Sakhee, Godolphin's much-improved Marienbard should run an honest race in his search for World Series points and the Japanese four-year-old Manhattan Cafe is considered every bit as good as El Condor Pasa, who brought honour to Nippon when he beat all bar Montjeu three years ago.