Longchamp report:Dylan Thomas recorded just the sixth Irish success in Europe's greatest all-aged race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when he survived a ferocious challenge from the 80 to 1 outsider Youmzain and then a dramatic, half-hour stewards' inquiry that threatened to deny Aidan O'Brien a first Arc victory.
There were nail-biting scenes in the famous Longchamp parade ring yesterday as the inquiry dragged on and the odds of a first Arc disqualification since Sagace in 1985 started to drop.
At the centre of it all was Kieren Fallon, the former champion jockey, who will be at London's Old Bailey this morning when a jury will sit for the first time into corruption allegations against him, and whose ability to attract the wrong sort of headlines appeared set to dog him on the track as well as off it.
As Fallon brought Dylan Thomas through to lead outside the furlong pole, his horse drifted to the right, interfered with the big home hope Zambezi Sun, then caused minor interference to the German runner Saddex, and then his stable companion, Solider Of Fortune, who finished fifth.
Under French interference rules, which are different to the rules in Britain or Ireland, Dylan Thomas faced the real threat of being thrown out.
After an agonising wait for the Irish camp, however, Fallon eventually emerged grinning from the stewards' room and the celebrations for following in the footsteps of Ballymoss (1958), Levmoss (1969), Alleged (1977-78) and Sinndar in 2000 could begin properly.
The Clare-born rider's relief was justified, since Zambezi Sun's rider, Stephane Pasquier, is hardly a bosom pal of Fallon, having been widely blamed for an incident at Longchamp in July when the Irishman was unseated in the Grand Prix de Paris.
"I was very worried but the boys were confident I wouldn't lose it," Fallon smiled later. "Stephane Pasquier helped me in the stewards' room and he backed me up. He owed me one - but I think he has paid it back now!"
Fallon added: "I would have preferred if they'd gone quicker in the race, as I was cantering the whole way. He is such a good horse. I could feel Youmzain coming but they could have gone round again and not gone by my horse. He has done it all now and this is probably one of the best days of my life."
Dylan Thomas's part-owner Michael Tabor kept open the option of running the winner in the Breeders Cup at Monmouth Park at the end of the month, but O'Brien was happy to concentrate on one of the most memorable victories of his meteoric career.
"This is never a race you expect to win, just hope you do. It's a marvellous race and he's a marvellous horse. We knew this dig in the ground was not ideal for him but he still won," said Ireland's champion trainer, who added of Fallon: "He gave Dylan a masterful ride. He's a master of his craft."
It wasn't a perfect day for the Ballydoyle team, however, as their champion stayer, Yeats, a 30 to 100 favourite, finished third in the subsequent Prix Du Cadran behind the winner Le Miracle.
But even that couldn't compare to the disappointment felt by the camp of the Arc favourite Authorized, who trailed home 10th. Frankie Dettori reported: "He was beaten before the start. He wasn't the same horse today. I don't know if it was the track or what."
Dettori had earlier landed the Prix Jean Luc Lagadere on Godolphin's Rio De La Plata, who is now as low as 4 to 1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas after paying a huge compliment to his National Stakes conqueror New Approach.
Ireland's champion jockey-elect, Pat Smullen, was third on Dermot Weld's Mad About You in the Prix Marcel Boussac to the impressive Zarkava, but Smullen secured Group One honours in the Prix de l'Abbaye aboard Benbaun.
Finsceal Beo won last year's Boussac, but her Longchamp return in the Prix de l'Opera petered out to a fifth behind Satwa Queen, leaving trainer Jim Bolger reporting: "She has run way below her best form and I don't know why. She will have a long break now and then we'll look forward to Dubai."
