A glorious win for Roger Charlton's Beckhampton yard: Quest for More wows the French crowds
Thumbs up from George Baker as he returns Quest for More to the parade ringIt was the Saturday of the Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe meeting - and as a warm-up to the ninety-fifth running of the world famous Arc the day brought great racing and a stunning win for the Roger Charlton trained six year-old Quest for More.
The trainer was at home in Beckhampton - and according to the Racing Post he was shouting at the television coverage of the fifth race of the afternoon, the Qatar Prix de Cadran - a race with prize money totalling €300,000.
The two-day meeting that includes Europe's premier flat race - 'the Arc' - was being held at Chantilly's graceful and welcoming course while its normal home, Longchamps is undergoing some radical building work.
The main part of the Hippodrome de Chantilly was sold out and a 'village' had been built iniside the course for the sizeable overflow.
Some of the talk in the crowds was about the difference in facilities compared to Longchamps. But the main topic of conversation was Chantilly's long home straight - three furlongs with a climb over the first furlong.
Early in September, Jockey George Baker had ridden Quest for More in the Doncaster Cup and led so nearly to the line - coming home second to Sheikhzayedroad by a nose. At Chantilly the pair faced two miles and four-and-a-half furlongs around the oval course with its tight final bend.
It is said that Quest for More had not travelled well on his trip across the channel. So George Baker 'left him alone'. Certainly sitting at the back of the field had not been discussed as a tactic for the race.
The presentation: George Baker with Alex Crean on his leftBut Baker kept Quest for More safe at the rear of the field right till they came off that last bend. Then he started to give him a way forward - though at one point one of the spectators yelled at no one in particular that Baker had got caught with no way through.
But Baker and Quest for More did find a way through and they came home to win by a head...an exciting finish to a great race.
There were a large number of British race goers at Chantilly and they were packed around the parade ring as Baker brought Quest for More into the winner's enclosure. They cheered, but they seemed to think it had been an easy race for the jockey if not for the horse: "Too easy George" they shouted.
George Baker had rides on both Chantilly's cards - if he was cutting it a bit fine with that win by a head, he must have been hoping his wife is not cutting it too fine: she is at the end of her pregnancy and was due to give birth to their baby daughter the previous day.
After the race George had more work to do: he was in great demand to give interviews to half-a-dozen or more charming French television and radio presenters for all the channels that were covering the meeting live - and the man from Sky Sports.
Waiting to go live 
Another interview... 
...a bit of a scrum 
...a bit of a scrum
It is not easy to look relaxed while your words are translated on the hoof (as it were) into French by your interviewer. But George Baker seemed to be getting quite used to the way it works.
Quest for More after the race (Photo courtesy Michael Harris)Beckhampton was represented at Chantilly by Alex Crean - the stables' pupil assistant. He took it all in his stride and appeared cool and calm when confronted with a live microphone and the young lady carrying it.
Quest for More's share of the prize money was a cool €171,420.
Charlton's other entry on Saturday was HM Queen's Pure Fantasy in a middle distance race for fillies at Newmarket. With David Egan on board, she came in sixth of the ten runners - earning prize money of £585.
What next for 'Questy'? Roger Charlton: "The weather forecast suggests we are in for a dry week, and so we can’t rule out having a go at the Champions Day Stayers race [Ascot, October 15], but preference would be to give him a break and look at Dubai in March."
Champions Day could present a real feast if Arc winner Found is entered there as well.
More photos by Michael Harris can be found at his Instagram account
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Ryan Moore & Found leading down the long home straight