Cheers to a warrior ~ Les Arcs

[my miss storm cat]

Feel batter, good boy.

Thanks for the memories.

Racing post.....

Les Arcs looks to have raced for the last time

by Lee Mottershead


THE amazing story of moderate hurdler turned star sprinter Les Arcs appears to have come to an end after owner Willie McKay revealed that the dual Group 1 winner - who he on Thursday claimed ran with a tendon injury at York in May - has almost certainly raced for the last time.

McKay, who enjoyed Group 1 success with the gelding in last year's Darley July Cup and Golden Jubilee Stakes, conceded that he would be "surprised" if the seven-year-old ever returned to racecourse duties.

Les Arcs, who three years ago was beaten 67 lengths in a Cartmel maiden hurdle, sprung to fame under trainer Tim Pitt, earning himself a trip to Japan, where he finished seventh to Takeover Target in last October's Sprinters Stakes.

However, the highs of last year have not been repeated this season and the gelding's only run in 2007 resulted in a 13th-place finish in the Duke of York Stakes. Since then, Pitt has parted company with McKay after the football agent informed him that he had appointed the previously Singapore-based Danny Murphy to share training duties.

"I would be surprised if he runs again," said McKay on Thursday.

"He did a tendon injury over in Japan. He ran with the injury at York but I never knew he was injured. I foundout about the injury the same day that Danny Murphy found out.

"He has had a couple of operations already, and I don't think he'll be running in Group 1 races again, that's for sure. It's sad but one of those things."

Asked about Les Arcs, Murphysaid: "He has a bit of a leg injury and is recovering from that. He might come back for the backend of the year but time is running out."

Les Arcs ran in a total of 40 races, winning on 12 occasions and earning total prize-money of £527,591.